Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 23: As part of the nation-wide agitation by trade unions, farmers, youth, students, etc, the CITU, Andaman and Nicobar State Committee organized a mass demonstration near Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) Municipal Council at Aberdeen Bazar, Port Blair today (23rd October, 2026) evening, demanding resignation of Shri Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner, to scrap SIR, etc.
Addressing the participants in the mass demonstration, B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, CITU State Committee briefly explained the country-wide agitation launched by trade unions, farmers organizations and students and youth against the large-scale removal of voters from the electoral rolls through SIR. He said that democratic movements are being suppressed by the Modi government.
Speaking on the occasion, R. Surendran Pillai, President CITU State Committee expressed concern over the removal of thousands of voters from the electoral rolls of Andaman & Nicobar Islands during the SIR. The demands on which the nation-wide agitation include (1) Resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, CEC, (2) Scrap Illegal SIR, conduct period revisions as earlier (3) Repeal EC’s Appointment Law – Ensure EC’s autonomy and (4) Comprehensive Electoral Reforms – proportional representation, curb money/muscle power, state funding, etc.
Anand Rajan, Treasurer and M. Yugander, Secretary, CITU State Committee and Venkat Rao, Secretary, ASNVMS also addressed the gathering. R. Rajendran, Secretary, CITU State Committee and other leaders were also present.
A large number of workers from various unions of Port Blair town and rural South Andaman attended the programme.