Kerala BJP vice-president Shone George has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister VD Satheesan, alleging that the Congress leader had effectively questioned the legitimacy of the state Assembly election. George also called for the Assembly to be dissolved, after Satheesan backed Rahul Gandhi’s protest over alleged irregularities in the electoral process and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
George said Satheesan’s position was inconsistent with his continuation as Chief Minister. “Since he himself admits that the election held in Kerala four months ago was illegal, he has no right to hold the post of Chief Minister,” George told reporters. He said the BJP in Kerala wanted Satheesan to resign immediately and dissolve the Assembly.
The BJP leader’s remarks followed a post by Satheesan on X in which the Chief Minister supported Rahul Gandhi’s protest against alleged irregularities in the electoral process. Satheesan said free and fair elections were essential to democracy and alleged that the country’s electoral process was being “sabotaged”. He also expressed support for the protest led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Delhi.
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Satheesan further cited an observation attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant concerning Form 6, arguing that the Supreme Court had not directed any modifications to the form. He said this supported Rahul Gandhi’s concerns about alleged manipulation of the electoral process. Satheesan also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying there was “no solution” other than his resignation, and said Kerala supported the democratic protest.
Satheesan had joined the INDIA bloc protest against Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi on Tuesday, where he was detained for around two hours along with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra before being released. His latest position has also come amid an ongoing political dispute with Kerala BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar over the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision exercise. Chandrasekhar had defended the poll panel and criticised Rahul Gandhi over his allegations concerning the electoral process.
The exchange between the Congress and BJP leaders has intensified as Rahul Gandhi continues to raise allegations against the Election Commission. Chandrasekhar had challenged Satheesan to secure an apology from Rahul Gandhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Election Commission, saying he would otherwise continue to call the Congress leader a “fraud”. George’s latest demand for Satheesan’s resignation and dissolution of the Assembly adds another layer to the political confrontation over the credibility of the electoral process.
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