New Delhi: The Opposition INDIA bloc is planning to hold a mock Parliament session and a mock impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in the capital on October 28, ahead of its November 1 joint rally — but the programme hinges on the alliance finding a suitable venue, a senior Opposition leader told the Indian White Paper.
The leader said there was a consensus on October 28 for the programme, which takes forward a proposal discussed earlier this month by Opposition parties, civil society groups and student representatives at a meeting convened by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Finding a venue remains the main hurdle: Ramlila Maidan has been ruled out for logistical reasons and Talkatora Stadium was unavailable, the report said.
"We are exploring more options. While leaders have agreed on the date, we will go ahead if we can find a venue by October 28," the leader was quoted as saying. The proposed mock impeachment would give the Opposition a public platform to lay out its case against Kumar — its allegations over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which the Election Commission and the BJP have rejected — and the plan is to invite judges, legal experts and members of the public, according to the report.
The mock-Parliament idea has been under discussion for days. The Daily Jagran reported on October 22 that the bloc was weighing another massive march or a mock Parliament to 'impeach' Kumar, quoting CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby as saying various options were being considered, and a senior Congress leader as saying Rahul Gandhi and K.C. Venugopal had said the protests would continue until Kumar steps down.
The proposed October 28 programme would precede the alliance's November 1 joint rally at Ramlila Maidan, placing a public discussion of its demand for Kumar's removal ahead of the mobilisation, the Indian White Paper reported.