Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Congress Demands Election Chief’s Resignation Amid Protest Crackdown
Congress leaders said young people were worried about their right to vote and wanted to protest in Delhi.
Jairam Ramesh called for the election chief to resign and for a voter-list review called the SIR to stop.
He alleged that the process had kept nearly 14 crore people from voting.
The Cockroach Janta Party planned a protest against the election chief at Jantar Mantar.
Delhi Police did not allow the demonstration, saying security and procedural rules were reasons.
Police detained people who were trying to reach the protest area and used drones to monitor movement, according to the reports.
The reports give different numbers and dates for the detentions: around 150 on Friday in one account and more than 200 on Saturday in another.
Congress leaders described the protest as peaceful and criticized the government’s response.
The reports do not include a response from the Election Commission to the allegations.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation a “moral imperative” and urged suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Ramesh alleged the SIR had disenfranchised nearly 14 crore Indians and said suspending it was necessary to restore public trust in elections.
Congress accused the Modi-Shah government of suppressing a peaceful youth protest; these claims were statements by party leaders.
Delhi Police denied the Cockroach Janta Party permission to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar, citing security considerations and procedural requirements.
Reports conflict on detentions: one says around 150 protesters were detained on Friday, while another says over 200 were detained on Saturday; both mention drone monitoring.
- Who
- Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and K. C. Venugopal, the Cockroach Janta Party, and Delhi Police.
- What
- Congress called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign and for the SIR to be suspended; police denied permission for a planned protest and detained people trying to reach it.
- When
- The reports are dated October 10, but differ on whether detentions occurred Friday or Saturday.
- Where
- New Delhi, including the area around Jantar Mantar.
- Why
- The planned protest concerned allegations of voter-list manipulation during the SIR and changes involving Form 6.
Congress and protest organizers
Delhi Police
Protest and police restrictions
Congress and protest organizers
Congress described the youth protest as peaceful, while the Cockroach Janta Party planned a demonstration at Jantar Mantar.
Delhi Police
Delhi Police denied permission, citing security considerations and procedural requirements, and detained people attempting to reach the site.
Special Intensive Revision
Congress and protest organizers
Ramesh called for the SIR to be suspended, alleging it had disenfranchised nearly 14 crore Indians and damaged public trust.
Delhi Police
The reports give no response from Delhi Police or the Election Commission to these allegations.
- Congress spokesperson
- Jairam Ramesh, general secretary in-charge of communications
- Other Congress leader quoted
- K. C. Venugopal, general secretary in-charge of organisation
- Election official
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Planned protest site
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
- Detentions reported
- One report says around 150 protesters were detained on Friday; another says over 200 on Saturday.
- Police explanation
- Delhi Police cited security considerations and procedural requirements for denying permission.
- Congress allegation
- Ramesh alleged the SIR had disenfranchised nearly 14 crore Indians.