Why is the Congress Party Protesting Against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar?

Nationwide Protests Erupt Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

New Delhi: On Monday, the Congress party mobilized supporters nationwide to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, igniting demonstrations and burning effigies in response to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) controversy. Party leaders assert that public dissent will escalate until Kumar is dismissed.

In Agra, Congress activists gathered outside Kumar's residence, chanting slogans and vandalizing the property with spray paint. They affixed stickers and distributed pamphlets, labeling him a 'traitor' and 'thief' in Hindi.

Law enforcement deployed water cannons to disperse crowds attempting to breach barricades in cities like Jaipur and Bhopal.

The protests were fueled by opposition parties' criticisms of Kumar regarding the SIR of electoral rolls. Concerns arose after it was revealed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on multiple occasions regarding decisions made without their consent.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge announced that the party would strategize further on this matter during a meeting of the Congress Working Committee scheduled for Tuesday.

"We are committed to addressing this issue seriously. It impacts the entire nation, the integrity of our democracy, and the future of our country... The Election Commission's own officials have revealed their shortcomings... he is promoting the BJP's agenda and has effectively become a BJP operative," Kharge stated.

The opposition coalition, known as INDIA, is also expected to convene on September 30 to discuss strategies for pushing for Kumar's removal and to file another notice in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

"Today, protests occurred in over 1000 districts. Mr. Gyanesh, this is merely the beginning. The public outcry will only intensify. My advice to Modi and Shah is to remove Gyanesh before the streets overflow with people rejecting your electoral fraud," remarked AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal on social media.

In Delhi, Congress members attempted to march from their office on Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg to the Nirvachan Sadan but were halted by police barricades.

The Indian Youth Congress also staged a protest in Delhi, where members were prevented from marching to the Election Commission office. Some demonstrators donned masks of Kumar and were bound in chains, symbolizing their belief that the CEC was acting in the BJP's favor.

"In Agra, Congress activists blackened the house of 'Gaddar Gyanesh' with soot. The collusion between Modi, Shah, and Gyanesh in manipulating elections across the country is a betrayal of our nation. We will ensure Gyanesh faces consequences," the IYC stated on social media.

Kumar, an Indian Administrative Service officer from the Kerala cadre, was appointed as an election commissioner on March 15, 2024, after retiring from service on January 31, 2024. He took office as the 26th CEC on February 19 of the previous year.

These events unfold amid a growing conflict between the Congress party and the Election Commission regarding its operations, particularly concerning the SIR. Rahul Gandhi has accused CEC Kumar of 'treason' and urged him to become a whistleblower regarding electoral fraud.

"Gyanesh Kumar will be removed. However, the system that enabled his actions must also be held accountable," he stated in a social media post.

The Congress party organized protests in various states, including Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat, Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Goa, accusing the CEC of favoring the BJP.

In Haryana, Congress members conducted demonstrations demanding a thorough review of all election-related decisions made during Kumar's tenure and the alleged alterations to electoral rolls following the SIR.

Senior Congress figures, including Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other prominent leaders, participated in the protests, where Kumar's effigy was set ablaze.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and other senior party leaders were detained by police during a protest march to the State Election Commission office in Jaipur, addressing allegations of electoral fraud and irregularities in the SIR.

As the march commenced at Shaheed Smarak, protesters encountered multiple barricades. When they attempted to push through, police responded with water cannons.

Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring led a protest in Ferozepur, accusing CEC Kumar of undermining democracy. Protesters also burned effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the CEC.

Warring claimed that Kumar had 'subverted and sabotaged' the electoral process, alleging that 13.8 crore voters had been 'disenfranchised' through deletions from electoral rolls.

The Congress party also held demonstrations at district headquarters in Srinagar, led by Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera, who emphasized the need for continued protests until Kumar resigns, asserting that fair elections are impossible with such individuals in power.

In Maharashtra, Congress organized protests statewide and submitted memoranda to district officials demanding action against Kumar.

Party members staged sit-ins in Mumbai and other districts, including Pune, Kolhapur, and Nagpur, among others.

In Jharkhand, Congress workers surrounded the CEO's office and protested at district headquarters, culminating in a march near the Old Assembly premises.

In Madhya Pradesh, Congress members clashed with police while attempting to march towards the chief electoral officer's office in Bhopal, demanding Kumar's resignation. Police utilized water cannons to prevent protesters from advancing.

A party representative later reported that three members, including a woman, sustained injuries during the protests. A party worker wearing a mask of Kumar and bound in chains was also present at the demonstration.