Face-Off: 'Gyanesh Kumar has become bigger than the institution' - India Today
A debate on Election Commission integrity and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar saw intense confrontation between BJP spokesperson Sanju Verma, Congress spokesperson Adil Singh Boparai, and analyst Rajat Sethi, moderated by Gaurav Sawant. Congress demanded the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, alleging unilateral modifications to Form 6 and ignoring dissent from fellow Election Commissioners. Boparai stated that 'Gyanesh Kumar has become bigger than the institution.' The BJP refuted all allegations of constitutional violations, citing Article 324 and Supreme Court rulings regarding electoral rolls and Form 6 annexures. Verma asserted that the opposition routinely blames institutions following election losses. Sethi noted the constitutional reservoir of powers under Article 324 while emphasizing that institutional transparency must stand above suspicion.
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The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India to decide the Trinamool Congress name and symbol dispute between the factions led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee within three months. Meanwhile, Congress and opposition parties are holding protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the revision of electoral rolls. In Delhi, PWD Minister Parvesh Verma has come under political scrutiny following an altercation during a road inspection in Tilak Nagar, with AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Jarnail Singh criticising the incident.
In Punjab, student unrest and police action at Lovely Professional University following sexual assault allegations have prompted a Special Investigation Team probe. The coverage also tracks Supreme Court observations on women's safety, Delhi's winter anti-pollution measures and Congress's reaction to the DUSU election results.