Congress Workers Take Out March in Patna, Seek CEC Gyanesh Kumar's Resignation

Congress Holds Protest March in Patna

Congress workers took out a march towards the Election Commission office in Patna on Friday, September 25, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The demonstration was part of the Congress's nationwide protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party has accused the Election Commission of compromising electoral processes and has demanded action against Kumar. These allegations represent the Congress's political position and have not been established as findings by a court or independent authority.

Police Use Water Cannons

The march covered approximately half a kilometre before police stopped the protesters from proceeding towards the poll panel's office.

A senior police officer said water cannons were used to prevent the demonstrators from moving further. Police personnel were deployed in large numbers during the protest.

Congress workers raised slogans against Gyanesh Kumar and demanded his immediate resignation.

Bihar Congress Chief Raises Allegations

Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram criticised the Election Commission during the demonstration.

Ram alleged that the poll panel was “compromised” and claimed that it was working under the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He reiterated the Congress's demand that Gyanesh Kumar should resign.

These claims are allegations made by the Bihar Congress leadership and are disputed by the Election Commission.

Congress Raises Gen Z Voting Rights Issue

The Congress also linked its protest to concerns about younger voters and the electoral-roll revision process.

Party workers alleged that Gen Z voters could be affected by the SIR exercise and stressed the importance of protecting voting rights. During the Patna demonstration, Congress also referred to the reduction of India's voting age from 21 to 18 in 1988 under the Rajiv Gandhi government.

The party contrasted that historical change with what it described as the current threat to young voters' participation.

Protest Follows Reports of Internal EC Objections

The latest Congress demonstrations came after a report by The Indian Express said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections on at least 14 occasions over a 10-month period.

According to the report, the objections concerned matters including changes to voter registration Form 6, additions and deletions from electoral rolls and centralised control of electoral-roll databases.

Congress has cited these reported objections while demanding greater transparency and an independent review of decisions related to electoral-roll changes.

Election Commission Defends Its Process

The Election Commission has rejected the interpretation that differences of opinion within the panel indicate an institutional breakdown.

The ECI has said that differing views, observations and suggestions are a normal part of deliberations within a multi-member constitutional institution. It has also maintained that its orders have full legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.

The Commission has further said that not only the three Election Commissioners but also its officers are authorised to provide suggestions aimed at improving the electoral system.

Nationwide Congress Protests

The Patna march was one of several demonstrations organised by Congress units across India on September 25.

Protests were also reported in Delhi, Kolkata, Assam, Chandigarh and other locations. In Assam, Congress state president Gaurav Gogoi and other leaders were detained during a demonstration demanding action against the CEC.

In Kolkata, Congress workers marched towards the Chief Electoral Officer's office, but police stopped the procession midway.

Congress Demands CEC's Resignation

The Congress has expanded its demands from criticism of the SIR process to calls for the removal and, in some protests, arrest of Gyanesh Kumar.

The party has also sought an independent review of decisions and electoral-roll changes made under Kumar. Congress announced that further demonstrations would be organised at district-level offices as part of its continuing campaign.

The political dispute remains centred on allegations concerning electoral-roll management and the functioning of the Election Commission.

Wider SIR Controversy

The Special Intensive Revision has become a major political issue, with the Congress and other Opposition parties raising concerns about voter-list verification, additions and deletions.

The Election Commission, however, has maintained that the SIR exercise is being conducted according to the applicable legal and statutory framework and that internal observations do not invalidate the Commission's decisions.

The competing claims are likely to remain part of the wider political and legal debate surrounding electoral-roll revision.

Key Takeaways

• Congress workers marched towards the Election Commission office in Patna on September 25.

• Protesters demanded the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

• Police used water cannons to prevent the protesters from reaching the poll panel office.

• Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram accused the EC of being compromised, a claim disputed by the poll panel.

• Congress linked the protest to concerns over Gen Z voting rights and the SIR exercise.

• The demonstration followed reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on at least 14 occasions.

• The Election Commission said differing views and suggestions are a normal part of institutional deliberations.

• Similar Congress protests took place in Delhi, Kolkata, Assam, Chandigarh and other locations.