Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Congress Protests CEC Removal Nationwide; Gogoi Detained in Guwahati
The Congress party held protests in several parts of India about how voter lists were being changed.
In Guwahati, Assam Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi and other leaders were detained by police.
They had marched toward the election officer’s office but tried to pass police barricades.
Congress wants Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar removed or to resign.
The party also wants an independent review of changes to voter lists.
The protests followed reports that two other election commissioners had raised objections many times.
The Election Commission said these discussions did not show a split.
It said all three commissioners approved decisions about the voter-list review.
Police used tear gas in Manipur and water cannons in Chandigarh and Patna, according to the reports.
Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi and several senior leaders were detained after attempting to cross police barricades in Guwahati.
Congress marched from Rajiv Bhawan toward the Chief Electoral Officer’s office and planned to burn an effigy of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
The party demanded Kumar’s resignation or removal and an independent review of electoral-roll changes made during his tenure.
Protests also took place in Manipur, Chandigarh, Patna, Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata, Dehradun, Jammu and other locations.
The Election Commission denied an institutional split, saying internal observations are normal and SIR-related decisions were approved unanimously.
- Who
- Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, Congress leaders and protesters, police, the Election Commission of India, and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
- What
- Congress held nationwide protests demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s removal or resignation; Gogoi and other leaders were detained in Guwahati.
- When
- Friday, September 25, 2026.
- Where
- The main detention occurred near Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati, Assam; related protests were reported in several Indian cities and states.
- Why
- Congress said it 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
Detentions and police action
Congress’ Position
Congress spokesperson Bedabrata Bora alleged that party leaders were forcefully arrested and called the police action a threat to democracy.
Election Commission’s Position
Police said the leaders were detained after attempting to cross barricades during the protest.
Reported internal objections
Congress’ Position
Congress’s protest followed reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months on electoral-roll decisions and procedures.
Election Commission’s Position
The Election Commission said internal observations are normal within a multi-member constitutional body and do not indicate an institutional split.
Special Intensive Revision
Congress’ Position
Congress demanded Kumar’s removal and an independent review of electoral-roll changes made during his tenure.
Election Commission’s Position
The Election Commission maintained that decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision were unanimous and approved by all three commissioners.
- Protest leader
- Gaurav Gogoi, Assam Congress president and MP
- Main demand
- Removal or resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Guwahati route
- From Rajiv Bhawan toward the Chief Electoral Officer’s office
- Police action
- Gogoi and other leaders were detained after attempting to cross barricades
- Contested issue
- The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, including voter registration, deletions, restorations, Form 6 changes and database access
- Reported objections
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly recorded objections at least 14 times over 10 months
- Election Commission response
- It rejected claims of institutional dissent and said SIR-related decisions were approved by all three commissioners
