Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Gangtok: New Delhi police detained three opposition youth leaders from the Sikkim Democratic Front on October 10. Officers grabbed Ezak Muringla Subba, Rewas Limboo, and Karma Tashi Bhutia during a chaotic demonstration. At least 3,000 protesters faced detention throughout the day.
The Cockroach Janta Party organized the rally to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Organizers claimed Kumar oversaw voter list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and mismanaged Form 6 registrations. SDF spokesperson Yojna Khaling Rai joined the protest to demand more transparency and better safeguards for the electoral process.
The SDF aired grievances regarding electronic voting machine integrity and voter registration hurdles. Rai specifically pointed to the 2019 Sikkim Assembly elections, noting that the reduction of a disqualification period for a convicted candidate damaged faith in the system. The party warned that current practices erode trust in the state's democratic foundation.
The party statement emphasized that the commission must stay impartial. It noted, "Any perception that the poll panel is acting in favour of the ruling party undermines public confidence in democratic institutions and the electoral process."
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