Kerala opens Vigilance probe on CEC amid Cong removal push

New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram: With the Congress leadership preparing to intensify its campaign for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Kerala has opened a fresh front with a Vigilance probe into an alleged bribery case dating back to his tenure as a state government official. The two developments have given a new political dimension to the growing confrontation with CEC Kumar, who is already facing a concerted campaign by the INDIA bloc over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is hosting a gathering of senior party leaders in Delhi on Friday, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other top functionaries expected to attend. Though officially described as a Diwali get-together, the meeting assumes significance amid the party’s plans to decide its next course of action against Kumar.

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan has also reached the national capital to attend the meeting.