The Congress has intensified its campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. On September 28, party workers held protests across several states. They demanded Kumar’s resignation over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The protests took place in state capitals and districts across the country. Congress units in Gujarat, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Assam, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi joined the campaign.
In several places, police detained protesters. In Jaipur, authorities used water cannons during the demonstration. Congress workers also burned effigies of the Chief Election Commissioner in some locations.
The Congress has linked its protests to concerns over voter-list revisions. The party has also demanded greater transparency from the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Congress Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation
Congress leaders have repeatedly called for Kumar’s removal from office. The party has accused the Election Commission of mishandling the SIR process.
However, these allegations remain disputed. The Election Commission has rejected claims of institutional disagreement over its final decisions.
The ECI said that election commissioners can raise questions, suggestions and observations during internal discussions. It also maintained that its final decisions on the SIR process were taken unanimously.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders have continued to challenge the Commission’s position.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal described the protests as a response to what he called the CEC’s actions. Other party leaders have also demanded changes to the electoral-roll revision process.
Opposition Parties Raise Concerns Over SIR
The controversy centres on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The exercise has involved verification and revision of voter records. Opposition parties have raised concerns about voter deletions and the process used to verify names.
A recent report also intensified the political debate. According to reports, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections on several occasions over decisions related to the SIR process and other electoral matters.
The Election Commission has disputed the interpretation of these objections. It said that differences during internal deliberations do not amount to institutional dissent.
At the same time, opposition parties have used the issue to demand greater accountability from the poll panel.
INDIA Bloc to Meet on September 30
Against this backdrop, INDIA bloc parties are preparing to meet in New Delhi on September 30.
The meeting is expected to focus on the Election Commission, the SIR exercise and the opposition’s future strategy. Parties are also likely to discuss coordinated political action on the issue.
The proposed meeting comes after growing coordination among opposition parties.
Congress, the Trinamool Congress, CPI, CPI(M) and Shiv Sena (UBT) have all raised concerns over the Election Commission and called for action against Kumar.
TMC national joint secretary Derek O’Brien has said that Kumar’s removal remains an important demand for the opposition. He has also called for united action on the broader issue of electoral reforms and the SIR process.
Congress Working Committee Discusses Strategy
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) is also discussing the party’s response.
The CWC meeting is taking place on September 29. The meeting comes just one day before the proposed INDIA bloc gathering.
Congress is expected to discuss its campaign against the Election Commission and the next steps on electoral-roll concerns. The party has already organised protests across more than a thousand districts, according to reports.
The sequence of meetings could therefore shape the opposition’s approach in the coming days.
BJP Rejects Congress Allegations
The BJP has rejected the Congress’s allegations against the Election Commission.
Union ministers have accused the opposition of misleading voters and creating confusion around the electoral process. BJP leaders have also defended the Election Commission’s explanation of the internal discussions among commissioners.
Union minister JP Nadda criticised the Congress campaign and defended the ECI’s position. Other BJP leaders have similarly argued that the opposition has not established its allegations against the poll panel.
The BJP’s response has added another layer to the ongoing political dispute.
Protests Continue Across States
Meanwhile, Congress units continue to organise demonstrations in different parts of the country.
In Delhi, the Indian Youth Congress also marched towards Jantar Mantar. In other states, protesters held sit-ins and demonstrations outside government offices and party headquarters.
Some protests led to clashes or detentions. However, the Congress has said that its campaign will continue until its demands are addressed.
The opposition’s campaign has also received support from Left parties. CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation leaders have raised similar concerns over the SIR exercise and the role of the Election Commission.
INDIA Bloc Faces Key Meeting
The September 30 INDIA bloc meeting could become an important point in the opposition’s campaign.
The parties are expected to discuss a common strategy on the Election Commission and electoral-roll revision. They may also consider further protests and parliamentary action.
For now, the Congress-led campaign remains focused on the demand for accountability from the Election Commission. At the same time, the ECI continues to defend its procedures and decisions.
As the protests continue, the INDIA bloc meeting will provide an opportunity for opposition parties to discuss their next steps collectively. The political dispute over the CEC and the SIR process is therefore likely to remain a major issue in the coming days.