Gandhi Leads Protest Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Demands Resignation Amid Electoral Roll Controversy

Protesters, including Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, clashed with police near Akashvani Bhavan, as opposition parties stepped up their demand for CEC Gyanesh KumarIt was resignation.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi led a protest on Tuesday. Attempting to march to the Election Commission headquarters to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The protest, which was the second such joint street protest since the rollout of the SIR, saw opposition parties including the SP, TMC, NCP, and CPM join forces against the CEC.

Read More: Allahabad High Court Takes Up Noise Pollution Case Amid UP Girl's Death

The standoff with the police began when Gandhi and others were stopped near Akashvani Bhavan. Gandhi, who climbed atop the barricades, was detained and spoke to his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with some Congress MPs, who entered the Akashvani Bhavan complex. The situation escalated, with Gandhi saying, What has been done to our country is treason.

The opposition's demand for CEC Kumar's resignation is rooted in the Election Commissioners' objections to the Commission's steps. According to an investigation by The Indian Express last month.

Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected on record 14 times in 10 months to steps taken by the Commission. From keeping them in the dark to adding new voters and deleting names.

The Naveen Patnaik-led BJD party sent two of its MPs to participate in the march, marking an unexpected turn of events. The DMK, which was part of the protest last year, was missing from Tuesday's event. A Left MP expressed their skepticism about meeting with the ECI when demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

Also Read: ISRO to Upgrade Radar and Satellite Tracking Capabilities with New Facility in Guwahati

Stating, Why would we meet the ECI when we are asking for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar? If this was discussed with the allies, we wouldn’t have agreed. The protest near Akashvani Bhavan was also attended by other opposition leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, Abhishek Banerjee, and Supriya Sule.

The situation remained tense, with the police maintaining a heavy presence in the area. The Nirvachan Sadan, where the Election Commission is headquartered, was heavily barricaded by police, with all roads leading to the venue being blocked off.

Earlier in the day, John Brittas, the spokesperson for the Congress party, said, If they don’t want us to sit here, give us some other site. The protest is a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding the Election Commission's handling of the SIR rollout.