Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Congress Escalates Campaign Against Election Chief Gyanesh Kumar
The Congress party is asking Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to leave his post.
It says recent reports raise questions about how the Election Commission makes decisions.
Congress has put up posters in Delhi and started an online petition.
The petition also asks for an investigation and the release of election records.
Rahul Gandhi accused Kumar of harming democracy and demanded his resignation.
The Election Commission said its decisions in the last year were unanimous.
The BJP defended the election chief and criticized Rahul Gandhi.
Separately, a petition in the Bombay High Court challenges actions connected to updating voter lists in Maharashtra.
The Delhi Congress’s OBC wing put up “Gyanesh Hatao, Chunav Aayog Bachao” posters in New Delhi.
Rahul Gandhi demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over an Indian Express report on the Election Commission’s functioning.
The Election Commission said its decisions over the past year were unanimous and that differing views are normal during institutional deliberations.
The Indian Youth Congress launched an online petition seeking Kumar’s removal, arrest, prosecution, and an investigation into electoral records and processes.
A petition before the Kolhapur Bench of the Bombay High Court seeks to revoke alleged unilateral orders, halt Maharashtra’s voter-roll revision, and restore deleted names.
- Who
- The Congress, Rahul Gandhi, the Indian Youth Congress, Gyanesh Kumar, the Election Commission, the BJP, and petitioners before the Bombay High Court.
- What
- Congress is demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s removal, while petitions challenge Election Commission actions and the voter-roll revision process.
- When
- The posters were reported on Friday morning, after Rahul Gandhi’s Thursday press conference; the court petition and online campaign were also reported during this period.
- Where
- The posters appeared at Delhi’s ITO intersection, while the court petition was filed before the Kolhapur Bench of the Bombay High Court concerning Maharashtra.
- Why
- Congress cited reports about alleged ignored objections and concerns over electoral transparency, while the petitioners sought changes to administrative orders and the voter-roll revision.
Congress and Petitioners
Election Commission and BJP
Gyanesh Kumar’s position
Congress and Petitioners
Congress is demanding Kumar’s resignation and removal, with Rahul Gandhi accusing him of undermining democracy.
Election Commission and BJP
The BJP rejected the attack and criticized Rahul Gandhi, while the Election Commission defended the unanimity of its recent decisions.
Election Commission decision-making
Congress and Petitioners
Congress cited reports that objections from Election Commissioners, including objections concerning voter-roll revision, were being ignored.
Election Commission and BJP
The Election Commission said all decisions taken over the previous year were unanimous and that differing views are a normal part of institutional deliberations.
Special Intensive Revision in Maharashtra
Congress and Petitioners
The court petitioners want the process halted, deleted voter names restored, and upcoming elections postponed until fresh lists are approved.
Election Commission and BJP
The article does not report a detailed response from the Election Commission or BJP to these specific court demands.
- Chief Election Commissioner
- Gyanesh Kumar
- Congress slogan
- “Gyanesh Hatao, Chunav Aayog Bachao” (“Remove Gyanesh, Save Election Commission”)”
- Online petition
- The Indian Youth Congress petition is titled “Gyanesh, It’s Done Bro.”
- Election Commission response
- It said decisions taken during the previous year were unanimous and differing views are normal during deliberations.
- Court petition
- Filed before the Kolhapur Bench of the Bombay High Court by four petitioners.
- Maharashtra demand
- The petition seeks to halt the Special Intensive Revision process and restore names removed from voter lists.
- Political response
- The BJP called Rahul Gandhi a frustrated leader and described his press conference as a damp squib.