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Congress Protests Against Election Chief Over Electoral Roll Revision
The Congress party organized protests across the country.
It wants Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
Congress says there were problems with the updating of voter lists.
It also says the Election Commission is favoring the ruling establishment.
The party pointed to reported disagreements involving two other election commissioners.
Several Congress leaders joined demonstrations in cities including Hyderabad and Pune.
Other groups, including the CPI and affiliated organizations, also protested in some places.
The report said few ordinary people joined the protests.
It also said some people were more concerned about traffic being disrupted.
The Congress held nationwide protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
The party alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and bias by the Election Commission.
Congress cited reported objections by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi to some SIR decisions.
Protests took place in Pune, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Rajasthan, Hyderabad and other locations, while the CPI held a demonstration in Patna.
The report said public participation appeared limited and that protesters caused traffic disruption.
- Who
- The Congress party organized the protests, with participation from party leaders and, in some locations, the CPI and affiliated organizations.
- What
- Nationwide demonstrations demanded the resignation, impeachment and possible prosecution of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Where
- Demonstrations were reported in Pune, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Rajasthan, Hyderabad and Patna, among other places.
- When
- The protests were held on Monday.
- Why
- Congress alleged that the electoral-roll revision involved irregularities and that the Election Commission was acting in a biased manner and under the Centre's direction.
Congress's Allegations
Reported Ground Response
Election Commission conduct
Congress's Allegations
Congress alleged that Gyanesh Kumar made unilateral decisions favoring the ruling establishment and acted on the Centre's directions.
Reported Ground Response
The report presented these as Congress allegations and did not include a response from Gyanesh Kumar or the Election Commission.
Public support for protests
Congress's Allegations
Congress organized nationwide demonstrations and appeared to seek broad public backing for its demands.
Reported Ground Response
The report said the protests largely appeared to be Congress events, with little visible public participation and concern about traffic disruption.
Internal election-commission disagreements
Congress's Allegations
Congress cited reported objections from Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi as evidence of problems with SIR-related decisions.
Reported Ground Response
The report only stated that the two commissioners reportedly raised objections; it did not establish that their objections proved wrongdoing.
Key facts
- Main demand
- Congress demanded Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and also called for impeachment and legal proceedings.
- Issue
- The protests focused on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Congress allegation
- The party alleged unilateral decisions favoring the ruling establishment and said the Centre directed the Chief Election Commissioner.
- Reported objections
- Indian Express reported that Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected on several occasions to SIR-related decisions and orders.
- Hyderabad march
- The march went from the Indira Gandhi statue to the Election Commission office.
- Other participants
- The CPI, AISF, AIYF, Bihar Mahila Samaj, Bihar State Kisan Sabha, Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union, AITUC and Tanzim-e-Insaf participated in demonstrations.
- Reported public response
- The report said visible public participation was limited and that traffic disruption drew more concern.
Sources
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