Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Congress Protests Nationwide Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar Over Rolls
Congress workers protested in many parts of India against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
They were angry about a process called the Special Intensive Revision, which checks voter lists.
Congress leaders said some real voters could be wrongly removed.
They especially mentioned minorities, Dalits and poor people.
They said duplicate voter entries should be removed, but genuine voters must stay registered.
Protesters marched, burned effigies and tried to move past police barricades.
Police detained or arrested some protesters and used water cannons in some places.
The reports did not give the Election Commission’s response to the accusations.
Congress workers held protests across Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and several other states, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s removal, resignation or arrest.
The demonstrations centered on allegations that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls could wrongly remove eligible voters and reflected bias toward the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Protests included marches, sit-ins, effigy burnings and attempts to cross barricades; police used detentions, water cannons and, in Agra, arrests after property was defaced.
Congress leaders cited alleged voter deletions and objections, including claims involving 50 lakh Bengaluru names, 1,372 Babaleshwar voters and thousands of Vijayapura objections.
The reports did not include a response from Gyanesh Kumar or the Election Commission of India to the allegations and demands.
- Who
- Congress workers and leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, M B Patil, B K Hariprasad, Mukesh Dhangar and Anil Yadav, protested against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission of India.
- What
- They demanded Kumar’s removal, resignation or arrest and opposed alleged irregularities and misuse of authority during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- When
- The protests were reported on Monday, September 28, 2026.
- Where
- Demonstrations took place across India, including Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana, Gujarat, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Goa.
- Why
- Congress alleged that electoral-roll changes could disenfranchise eligible voters and that the Election Commission was acting in favor of the BJP-led central government.
Congress allegations and demands
Election authorities’ reported position
Electoral-roll revision
Congress allegations and demands
Congress alleged that the Special Intensive Revision was being misused and could remove eligible voters, particularly minorities, Dalits and poor people.
Election authorities’ reported position
The reports describe the revision as the subject of political allegations but do not provide a response from the Election Commission of India defending the process.
Chief Election Commissioner
Congress allegations and demands
Congress leaders demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s removal, resignation or arrest, and some called for an investigation into decisions taken during his tenure.
Election authorities’ reported position
No response from Gyanesh Kumar or the Election Commission of India to the demands was reported.
Protest methods and police action
Congress allegations and demands
Congress organized marches, sit-ins and demonstrations, saying the issue concerned democratic and constitutional rights.
Election authorities’ reported position
Police registered cases, detained or arrested protesters, and used barricades and water cannons after clashes or attempts to cross police lines.
- Main demand
- Congress protesters demanded the removal or resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar; some also demanded his arrest.
- Electoral exercise
- The protests concerned the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Reported scale
- Congress said it held protests in more than 1,000 districts, while demonstrations were reported across numerous states.
- Karnataka allegations
- M B Patil alleged objections against 1,372 voters in Babaleshwar and claimed 5,000 objections were filed in Vijayapura City on September 22 and 8,000 on September 23.
- Bengaluru allegation
- B K Hariprasad alleged that 50 lakh names had been removed from Bengaluru’s electoral rolls.
- Uttar Pradesh police action
- Police registered a case in Agra and arrested Mukesh Dhangar and Anil Yadav; workers were also detained in Lucknow and Hapur.
- Protest response
- Police used barricades, detentions and water cannons at several demonstrations, including in Jaipur and Bhopal.
Sources
Congress Protests Across UP Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar Over SIR Electoral Roll Allegations
Congress Stage Protests in Across Karnataka Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Congress hits streets against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, demands his removal
