Several petitions are now being filed in the High Courts and the Supreme Court “against” the actions of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. But we must not forget what happened the last time citizens knocked on the doors of the judiciary. The Supreme Court ENSURED that the SIR happened in Bengal in whatever manner barely months before the election. When the consequences of mass voters deletions became impossible to ignore, Justice Joymalya Bagchi in that bench made an extraordinary observation that those unable to vote “this time” could vote “next time”.

Who is to tell him that there is no “next time” for a possibly stolen election? So because the courts are constitutional institutions, let them hear these new petitions against Gyanesh as many times as they want. Let them pass whatever orders they want to. But our democratic demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s accountability will NOT BE outsourced to the courtrooms. The people will decide. Because ultimately, neither an Election Commissioner nor a judge owns Indian democracy. We, the People, do.

~ Saurav Das, Co-convenor, Cockroach Janata Party