Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Congress MLAs Protest Against Election Chief in J&K Assembly
Congress lawmakers protested inside the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
They held signs asking Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
They said they wanted voting rights and democracy to be protected.
The protest also involved concerns about how elections and voter lists are being handled.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather told them that the Election Commission was not under the Assembly’s authority.
Congress is conducting similar protests in different parts of the country.
Some Congress leaders and activists were detained during a protest near the chief electoral officer’s office.
They were also demanding Kumar’s removal.
The disagreement shows a political dispute over election administration.
Congress MLAs protested inside the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The legislators carried placards demanding Kumar’s resignation and protection of voting rights and democracy.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather objected to the banners and said the Election Commission of India was outside the Assembly’s jurisdiction.
The protest was linked to Congress concerns about the Election Commission’s functioning and electoral-roll revisions.
Several Congress leaders and activists were taken into custody while protesting near the chief electoral officer’s office.
- Who
- Congress MLAs, Congress leaders and activists, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.
- What
- Congress MLAs protested against Gyanesh Kumar and demanded his resignation or removal, while raising concerns about the electoral process and electoral-roll revisions.
- When
- Friday; Congress had also called for state-unit protests on September 25.
- Where
- Inside the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and near the chief electoral officer’s office.
- Why
- Congress said it was protesting the Election Commission’s functioning, the revision of electoral rolls, and decisions made during Kumar’s tenure.
Congress’s position
Assembly and Election Commission position
Demand for removal
Congress’s position
Congress demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign or be removed, citing concerns about the electoral process and his tenure.
Assembly and Election Commission position
The article does not report a response from Gyanesh Kumar or the Election Commission to the removal demand.
Assembly protest
Congress’s position
Congress MLAs said their protest inside the House was intended to protect voting rights and democracy and to highlight election-related concerns.
Assembly and Election Commission position
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather objected to the banners and said the Election Commission of India was outside the jurisdiction of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
- Protesting party
- Indian National Congress
- Target of demands
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Assembly speaker
- Abdul Rahim Rather
- Placard message
- “Gyanesh Kumar resign, protect the vote, protect democracy”
- Main concerns
- Election Commission functioning and electoral-roll revisions
- Detentions
- Several Congress leaders and activists were taken into custody near the chief electoral officer’s office
- Related campaign
- Congress called on state units to hold protests on September 25