Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Congress Calls Nationwide Protests, Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Removal
The Congress party has asked its state and district groups to hold protest marches.
The first marches will take place on September 25 near State Election Commission offices.
More marches will happen on September 28 near District Collectorates.
The party wants Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar arrested and removed from office.
It also wants an independent review of decisions and electoral roll changes made under him.
Congress leader K C Venugopal accused the BJP-controlled CEC of helping carry out large-scale vote manipulation.
These accusations have not been independently established in the article.
A report said two other election commissioners repeatedly objected to decisions involving the revision of voter lists.
The Congress directed state units to march to State Election Commission offices on September 25.
District Congress Committees will hold similar marches to District Collectorates on September 28.
The party is demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s arrest, removal as Chief Election Commissioner, and an independent review of his decisions.
K C Venugopal accused the BJP-controlled CEC of overseeing a “massive vote chori” exercise targeting democracy.
A report said commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times to decisions linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Who
- The Congress, led in these remarks by general secretary K C Venugopal, is protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- What
- The party has ordered protest marches and is demanding Kumar’s arrest, removal, and an independent review of decisions and electoral roll changes made under him.
- When
- State-level marches are scheduled for September 25, followed by district-level marches on September 28.
- Where
- The marches will be held at State Election Commission offices and District Collectorates.
- Why
- Congress says Kumar oversaw a “massive vote chori” exercise and alleges that decisions affecting electoral rolls were taken improperly; a report also described repeated objections from two other election commissioners.
- State protests
- Pradesh Congress Committees were instructed to march to State Election Commission offices on September 25.
- District protests
- District Congress Committees will march to District Collectorates on September 28.
- Main demand
- Congress wants Gyanesh Kumar arrested and removed as Chief Election Commissioner.
- Review demand
- The party is seeking an independent review of decisions and electoral roll changes made under Kumar.
- Special Intensive Revision
- The national rollout of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls was supervised by all three election commissioners.
- Recorded objections
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally objected at least 14 times over 10 months, including four times in one day, according to the report cited.