Thousands took part in a night march organised by the CPI(M) Malappuram district committee in Keralam on Monday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the alleged denial of voting rights to crores of citizens. The march also expressed solidarity with the protests at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.

Participants carried torches, placards, banners and party flags, and raised slogans against Mr. Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They accused the CEC of acting in the interests of the Sangh Parivar.

Traditional art performances and slogans of “Azadi” were also part of the march.

The march began near EMS Mandiram, the CPI(M) district committee office, passed through the town and concluded near the Government Taluk Hospital. CPI(M) district secretariat members K.P. Anil, E. Jayan, V. Sasikumar, V.M. Shoukath, K.P. Sumathi and B. Mohammed Razaq were among those who led the march.

CPI(M) Politburo member A. Vijayaraghavan inaugurated the concluding meeting. District secretary V.P. Anil administered a pledge to protect the Constitution. Former Minister K.T. Jaleel addressed the gathering. Singers Pushpavathy and Athul Narukara performed at the event.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Vijayaraghavan alleged that “communalism was growing under the BJP government” and that the Election Commission of India was “undermining democracy” under the influence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

He claimed that the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls had deprived nearly 13 crore people of their voting rights. Universal adult suffrage was guaranteed by the Constitution, and people had never had to struggle to secure this right, he said. He accused the Chief Election Commissioner and the Prime Minister of attempting to take it away.

Mr. Vijayaraghavan said around 50,000 police and paramilitary personnel had been deployed in Delhi to handle the protest, turning the national capital into a city of barricades. He also alleged that minorities were being suppressed and people’s rights were being eroded under BJP rule.

Criticising the Keralam government, he accused the State’s ruling establishment of compromising with the BJP. He also criticised Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and alleged that some political leaders were more concerned with securing control of the State Waqf Board than addressing wider political issues.

Mr. Vijayaraghavan warned that those attempting to weaken the Left “will ultimately fail.”