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Assam Congress Leaders Detained During Protest Seeking CEC Removal
Gaurav Gogoi and other Congress leaders held a protest in Assam.
They wanted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar removed.
The protesters marched toward the election officer’s office in Guwahati.
Police placed barricades to stop them.
Gogoi and several leaders were detained after trying to cross the barricades.
Congress said the arrests were forceful.
The protest was connected to disagreements about changes to voter lists.
The Election Commission said its members had not split and that all three approved the voter-list decisions.
Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi and senior party leaders were detained while trying to cross police barricades in Guwahati.
The Indian National Congress marched from Rajiv Bhawan toward the Chief Electoral Officer’s office and planned to burn an effigy of Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an independent review of electoral-roll changes made during his tenure.
Congress spokesperson Bedabrata Bora alleged that the leaders were forcefully arrested and called the police action a threat to democracy.
The Election Commission of India denied an internal split, saying all three commissioners approved decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision.
- Who
- Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi, senior Indian National Congress leaders, police, and the Election Commission of India.
- What
- Gogoi and other leaders were detained during a protest seeking Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s removal.
- Where
- Near Rajiv Bhawan and the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Guwahati, Assam.
- When
- Friday, September 25, 2026.
- Why
- The Indian National Congress was protesting the Election Commission’s handling of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and seeking an independent review of related changes.
Congress’ Position
Election Commission’s Position
Detention and police action
Congress’ Position
Congress spokesperson Bedabrata Bora alleged that the leaders were forcefully arrested and called the action a threat to democracy.
Election Commission’s Position
Police said the leaders were detained after attempting to cross barricades during the protest.
Internal disagreements
Congress’ Position
The protest followed reports that Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections on at least 14 occasions about electoral-roll management decisions.
Election Commission’s Position
The Election Commission of India rejected suggestions of a split, saying internal observations are part of a multi-member constitutional body’s functioning.
Special Intensive Revision
Congress’ Position
The Indian National Congress demanded an independent review of electoral-roll changes made during Gyanesh Kumar’s tenure.
Election Commission’s Position
The Election Commission of India maintained that decisions concerning the Special Intensive Revision were approved by all three commissioners.
Key facts
- Protest leader
- Gaurav Gogoi, Assam Congress president
- Demand
- Removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- March route
- From Rajiv Bhawan toward the Chief Electoral Officer’s office
- Police action
- Gogoi and several senior leaders were detained after attempting to cross barricades
- Related issue
- The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- Reported objections
- Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly objected at least 14 times over 10 months
- Election Commission position
- It said internal observations are normal and that all three commissioners approved SIR-related decisions
Quotes
Gaurav Gogoi
Assam Congress president who led the protest rally in Guwahati
“After people have come to know today that Gyanesh Kumar has committed a crime, he should resign. There should be legal action…”
news18.com
Sources
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