The Congress has claimed that it held protests in more than 1,000 districts across India against alleged electoral irregularities.
Congress general secretary K C Venugopal made the claim on September 28. He said the demonstrations marked the beginning of a wider campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Venugopal also warned that the party would intensify its agitation in the coming days. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to remove Kumar from his post.
The protests form part of the Congress campaign over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party has used the term “Vote Chori” to describe its allegations concerning the electoral process.
Congress Demands Removal of CEC
The Congress has made the removal of Gyanesh Kumar a central demand of its campaign.
Venugopal said the protests would continue until the party’s concerns receive a response. He also called for a review of decisions taken under Kumar’s tenure.
The party has accused the Election Commission of failing to protect the integrity of the electoral process. However, these remain Congress allegations and have been disputed by the Election Commission.
Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has also indicated that the party will continue its campaign.
The Congress Working Committee met on September 29 to discuss the party’s response to the Election Commission controversy. Kharge also raised demands concerning electoral-roll changes and transparency.
Protests Held Across Several States
Congress workers held demonstrations in multiple states on Monday.
Protests took place in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Assam, Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat, Jharkhand and other parts of the country.
In several locations, protesters demanded Kumar’s resignation. Some demonstrations also involved effigy burning and attempts to march towards election offices.
Police detained or stopped protesters at some locations. In Jaipur and Bhopal, police used water cannons after protesters attempted to cross barricades.
The scale of the protests varied from state to state. Congress leaders, MPs, MLAs and local party workers participated in the demonstrations.
Congress Links Campaign to SIR Row
The protests come amid an ongoing dispute over the SIR exercise.
Congress and other Opposition parties have raised concerns about changes to electoral rolls. They have also questioned the procedures followed during the revision process.
The Election Commission has rejected allegations of wrongdoing. It has maintained that its final decisions on SIR were approved by all three Election Commissioners.
The Commission has also said that internal discussions can involve questions, suggestions and written observations. According to the ECI, such discussions do not mean that its final decisions lacked collective approval.
Therefore, the disagreement now involves both political and institutional questions.
Opposition Parties Plan Further Action
The Congress campaign has also received support from other Opposition parties.
The INDIA bloc is expected to meet on September 30. The parties are likely to discuss their response to the Election Commission and the SIR controversy.
Opposition leaders have previously demanded action against Kumar. They have also discussed coordinated protests and parliamentary action.
The proposed meeting could therefore shape the next stage of the campaign.
Congress Warns of More Protests
Venugopal has described the latest protests as only the beginning.
He said the Congress would continue taking its campaign to the grassroots. The party wants to build pressure over what it calls “Vote Chori” and alleged electoral irregularities.
Congress leaders have also indicated that protests could continue if their demands remain unanswered.
At the same time, the BJP has defended the Election Commission. BJP leaders have rejected Congress allegations and accused the Opposition of trying to undermine confidence in electoral institutions.
The competing positions have kept the controversy at the centre of the political debate.
Legal Challenges Add to the Controversy
The dispute has also reached the courts.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear next week a plea seeking action against Gyanesh Kumar in connection with the SIR controversy. The petition raises questions about the Election Commission’s decision-making process.
The court has not yet ruled on the allegations made in the petition.
Meanwhile, political parties continue to pursue the issue through protests and meetings.
Agitation Likely to Continue
The Congress’s claim of protests across more than 1,000 districts highlights the scale of its current campaign.
The party has linked the demonstrations to its allegations about electoral-roll changes and the SIR process. It has also made the removal of Gyanesh Kumar a key demand.
However, the Election Commission has rejected the allegations and defended its decision-making process.
For now, both sides remain firmly opposed on the issue. The proposed INDIA bloc meeting on September 30 and further Congress protests could determine the next phase of the confrontation.