Dictators subvert electoral systems to cling to power: Satheesan

Chief Minister VD Satheesan along with other ministers, senior leaders of the Congress party at Gandhi Park in East Fort during a large rally organized on Monday demanding the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar in Thiruvananthapuram. | Photo credit: JAYAMOHAN A.

Chief Minister VD Satheesan said on Monday that dictators often subvert electoral systems to cling to power before rolling back civil rights. This trend is visible in BJP-led India, he said.

He started a ‘Save Democracy’ rally organized by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) at Gandhi Park to protest against the agitation-related arrests in Delhi, demanding protection of democratic rights and seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The event was presided over by KPCC President and Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph. Ministers Ramesh Chennithala, PK Kunhalikutty, CP John, Monk Joseph, PC Vishnunadh, K. Muraleedharan, Anoop Jacob and N. Samsudheen along with KPCC General Secretary (Organization) Neyyattinkara Sanal also spoke.

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

The group, which has called for the city’s public spaces and parks to be converted into mini Jantar Mantars in support of Delhi protesters, has also demanded the abolition of the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts competitive entrance exams like NEET.

The organization said the central government agency had lost credibility after the NEET exam was leaked, leading to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The Democracy Collective rally avoided political iconography and sought to broadcast its message of protecting democracy through recitation of poetry, posters parodying the central government, and skits.

Meanwhile, the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) took to the streets for 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 Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan and John Brittas, MP, in New Delhi on Saturday.

AIDWA Joint National Secretary T.N Seema and other leaders including MG Meenambika, S. Pushpa Latha and Sheeja Shaiju Dev led the march.

Published – 12 Oct 2026 21:34 IST