'Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.' The famous words, often attributed to political thinker John Philpot Curran, underline the importance of protecting democratic institutions and citizens' rights, an argument now at the centre of the Opposition's campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has joined the demand for Kumar's removal, adding another political voice to the Opposition's campaign ahead of its planned meeting with President Droupadi Murmu on Friday.

The development is significant because the party, led by K Chandrashekar Rao, is the principal Opposition force in Telangana, where the Congress is in power.

BRS working president and former Telangana minister K T Rama Rao announced the party's position on X, arguing that no individual should be above constitutional institutions or citizens' voting rights.

'Gyanesh Kumar must go! No individual is above the institution,' Rao said, questioning why the political establishment should rally behind one individual when the rights of millions of Indians are at stake.

He also called for the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and order an independent investigation headed by a sitting judge.

Why BRS's support matters

The BRS's intervention broadens the political backing for the demand against Kumar beyond the parties spearheading the protests in Delhi.

The Congress has led the campaign, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC), headed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has sought to build support among other Opposition parties.

People aware of the developments said the TMC had reached out to the BRS to garner support for Kumar's resignation.

The BRS's public statement signals agreement on this issue, even though the two parties have distinct political interests and operate in different states.

The development also highlights the BRS's parliamentary positioning. On several occasions, the party has extended tacit support to the Narendra Modi-led government on legislation in Parliament.

Its stand on the CEC controversy, therefore, places it alongside the Opposition on an issue concerning the Election Commission and the revision of electoral rolls.

However, support for the demand does not necessarily translate into participation in the street protests. TMC Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek O'Brien welcomed the BRS's position but indicated that the party was unlikely to join the Opposition's protests.

Opposition intensifies campaign over SIR

Opposition lawmakers have staged protests in Delhi for three consecutive days, with demonstrations leading to confrontations with the police. On Thursday, they held a sit-in at the Rajghat memorial complex, demanding Kumar's removal.

The parties have also planned a meeting with President Murmu on Friday to press their demand.

Their wider campaign includes 'Save Democracy' marches across the country, a rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on November 1 and six marches from Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on Constitution Day, November 26.

The Opposition has also outlined plans for five large rallies outside Delhi and intends to seek expedited hearings in the judiciary in cases linked to the SIR.

At the heart of the confrontation are allegations concerning the electoral-roll revision exercise and demands for accountability from the Election Commission.

The BRS has called for an independent judicial investigation, while the Opposition is seeking the President's intervention in the dispute over Kumar's continuation in office.

It remains unclear how far the BRS will go in subsequent protests. Its public backing, however, adds another party to the debate over the Election Commission, electoral-roll revision and the constitutional safeguards surrounding voting rights.