The Congress party has intensified its campaign against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, leading demonstrations in various states on Friday. Protesters are calling for his resignation, removal, and alleged arrest due to controversies surrounding the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Cities including Delhi, Jammu, Bihar, Assam, Uttarakhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh saw Congress leaders and followers taking to the streets.

Heavy security measures were enacted as police set up barricades in multiple locations to manage the protests. In Patna and Chandigarh, water cannons were deployed to disperse the crowds, while tear gas was used in Manipur. Reports indicate that in Guwahati, protesters breached police barricades, leading to the detention of several Congress members, including party MP Gaurav Gogoi. This marks a significant escalation in the party’s efforts to hold the CEC accountable for alleged irregularities.

In the national capital, the Indian Youth Congress conducted a demonstration specifically against Kumar, with many gathering at Jantar Mantar as part of the coordinated national protests. Protesters voiced calls for Kumar’s resignation and demanded accountability regarding the electoral roll management, adding pressure on the Election Commission.

Incident Reports from Various States Highlight Escalation of Tensions

Notable incidents transpired in Patna, where police used water cannons to control Congress workers protesting against the CEC. Demonstrators expressed their discontent vocally, chanting slogans for Kumar’s resignation. Similar scenes unfolded in Chandigarh, where security forces employed water cannons on party members during their demonstrations. Among those detained was Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring.

During protests in Guwahati, significant police deployment was noticeable as Congress leaders gathered outside the state’s Election Commission office. Amidst rising tensions, protesters attempted to breach barricades, resulting in the detention of several individuals, including Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi. Gogoi stated that attempts by Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to stifle public dissent would ultimately backfire.

Jammu also saw Congress activists demanding Kumar’s resignation, with police detaining Congress MP Syed Nasir Hussain during the protest. This issue resonated within the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, where Congress MLAs showcased their dissent through banners advocating Kumar’s immediate resignation.

Continued Organised Demonstrations Reflect Growing Discontent with the Election Commission

In Dehradun, large-scale demonstrations were organised by Congress workers, spearheaded by Congress MP Kumari Selja, as demands for Kumar’s resignation intensified. Similarly, protesters in Manipur demonstrated outside the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, burning effigies of the CEC while chanting slogans against him. Police responded by deploying tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Protests were widespread, with Congress members also voicing their concerns in Kolkata, Lucknow, and Bhubaneswar. In Shimla, demonstrations occurred outside the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, focusing on issues related to the Election Commission’s operations. Hyderabad witnessed similar protests led by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud and other party leaders.

The nationwide demonstrations were ignited following a report from The Indian Express, which stated that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected to numerous decisions made by Kumar. The objections were related to various aspects of the electoral-roll revision process, raising questions about the decision-making processes within the Election Commission.

Moreover, a report indicated that as many as 97 eligible voters in Goa were omitted from the final electoral roll due to procedural issues, further fuelling opposition criticism. The Election Commission has countered these claims, asserting that differing views are a standard part of their internal deliberations and that their orders hold legal validity.

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