The Indian Youth Congress and Congress state units held protests in several cities on September 25, demanding the resignation and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid an ongoing controversy over the functioning of the Election Commission and electoral-roll revision.
Demonstrations were reported in Delhi, Chandigarh, Patna and other locations. In Chandigarh and Patna, police used water cannons to disperse protesters, while security was tightened around the Election Commission office in Delhi.
The protests followed Congress allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and reports of differences within the three-member Election Commission. Congress has called for an independent review of decisions and electoral-roll changes made under Kumar.
The Election Commission has maintained that decisions of the poll panel were taken unanimously, despite reports of differing views among the commissioners.
Congress has announced further protests, with district units scheduled to hold marches on September 28. The opposition has also discussed parliamentary steps concerning the removal of the CEC.
The demonstrations come amid wider political debate over electoral-roll revisions, transparency and the functioning of the Election Commission ahead of upcoming elections.
