Dictators subvert electoral systems to cling to power: Satheesan

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Monday said dictators often subvert electoral systems to cling to power before dismantling civil rights. This trend is evident in India under the BJP leadership, he said.

He was inaugurating the ‘Save Democracy’ gathering organised by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) at Gandhi Park to protest against arrests linked to the Delhi agitations, demand the protection of democratic rights and seek the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

KPCC president and Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph presided over the function. Ministers Ramesh Chennithala, P.K. Kunhalikutty, C.P. John, Mons Joseph, P.C. Vishnunadh, K. Muraleedharan, Anoop Jacob and N. Samsudheen, along with KPCC general secretary (organisation) Neyyattinkara Sanal, also spoke.

Collective for Democracy, a non-partisan group of writers and social media influencers, gathered on Manaveeyam Veedhi and expressed support for the Gen-Z protests at Jantar Mantar. 

The group, which has called for converting public spaces and parks in the city into mini Jantar Mantars to support the protesters in New Delhi, has also demanded scrapping the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts competitive entrance examinations such as NEET.

 The organisation said the central government agency lost credibility after the NEET exam paper leak, which led to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. 

The Collective of Democracy gathering shunned political iconography and sought to broadcast its protect-democracy message through poetry recitation, placards lampooning the central government, and skits. 

Meanwhile, the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) took to the streets in a march demanding the resignation of Mr. Gyanesh Kumar. AIDWA activists also condemned the action against Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan and John Brittas, MP, in New Delhi on Saturday. 

AIDWA national joint secretary, T. N Seema, and other leaders, including M. G. Meenambika, S. Pushpa Latha, Sheeja Shaiju Dev led the march.