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Haryana Congress Protests, Demands Election Chief’s Resignation
Haryana Congress held protests across the state.
The party wants Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
Congress leaders accuse the Election Commission of helping the BJP in elections.
They say the 2024 Haryana election result did not reflect the public’s true choice.
Congress also wants election decisions made during Kumar’s tenure reviewed.
It has asked for the ongoing SIR voter-checking exercise to be stopped.
The Election Commission disagrees with the criticism.
It says all three Commissioners agreed to the SIR orders and that some voter-enrolment rules were upheld by the Supreme Court.
The two sides therefore have sharply different views about whether the election process was fair.
Haryana Congress held statewide demonstrations and protest marches demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Party workers burned Kumar’s effigy at several locations, while leaders marched near deputy commissioner offices.
Congress leaders accused the Election Commission of helping the BJP rig elections, including the 2024 Haryana polls.
The party also demanded a review of election-related decisions during Kumar’s tenure and suspension of the ongoing SIR exercise.
The Election Commission said all SIR orders received unanimous approval from its three Commissioners and that voter-enrolment updates were upheld by the Supreme Court.
- Who
- Haryana Congress leaders and workers, including Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Sanjay Dutt, Rao Narender Singh and Randeep Singh Surjewala, protested against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission.
- What
- Congress held statewide protests and demanded Kumar’s resignation, arrest or prosecution, a review of his election-related decisions, and suspension of the SIR exercise.
- Where
- Across Haryana, including Gurugram and Rohtak, with marches near deputy commissioner offices.
- When
- Monday, September 28; the report also refers to statements and developments from the preceding Saturday.
- Why
- Congress said the Election Commission had enabled alleged vote theft, harmed electoral fairness and risked disenfranchising voters; the Commission rejected the criticism of its SIR decision-making.
Congress’s allegations
Election Commission’s response
Election fairness
Congress’s allegations
Congress alleged that the Election Commission, in collusion with the BJP, rigged elections and helped steal the public mandate, including in Haryana.
Election Commission’s response
The Election Commission said its SIR orders had unanimous approval from all three Commissioners and defended its decision-making.
2024 Haryana result
Congress’s allegations
Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda alleged that the BJP took the public mandate with the Election Commission’s help and said the government formed from that mandate should resign.
Election Commission’s response
The article does not report a direct Election Commission response specifically addressing Hooda’s allegation about the 2024 Haryana result.
SIR exercise and voter rolls
Congress’s allegations
Congress demanded that the ongoing SIR exercise be suspended, claiming it had disenfranchised crores of people.
Election Commission’s response
The Election Commission said updates to Form 6 for voter enrolment were upheld by the Supreme Court.
Key facts
- Protesting party
- Haryana unit of the Indian National Congress
- Main demand
- Immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Additional demands
- Arrest or prosecution of Kumar and a comprehensive review of election-related decisions during his tenure
- Protest locations
- Statewide, including Gurugram and Rohtak
- Election cited
- 2024 Haryana Assembly election
- Related issue
- Congress demanded suspension of the ongoing SIR exercise, alleging voter disenfranchisement
- Election Commission response
- It said all SIR orders received unanimous consent from all three Commissioners
- Other judicial reference
- The Commission said updates to Form 6 for voter enrolment were upheld by the Supreme Court
Quotes
Bhupinder Singh Hooda
Former Haryana chief minister and Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly
“After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the media has also brought this matter into the open. Under these circumstances, the Chief Election Commissioner has no option but to resign from his post.”
theprint.in
“This is not just a demonstration, but a clarion call against those officials who, cloaked in the guise of impartiality, have struck at the soul of the Constitution.”
theprint.in
Sources
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