India: Congress protests demand resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar electoral rolls Special Intensive Revision Congress protests

The Congress party has launched nationwide protests across multiple Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, and Nagaland, demanding the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstrations center on allegations of irregularities during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Protesters have accused the Election Commission of undermining democracy through what they term “vote theft.” In Telangana, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy claimed approximately 13 crore votes have been omitted from rolls ahead of the 2029 elections. In various regions, activists have burnt effigies of the CEC, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah.

In response, BJP leaders have criticized the opposition, accusing them of double standards and undermining constitutional institutions. Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy stated that the SIR process is a constitutional procedure conducted under Supreme Court supervision to refine voter lists by removing duplicates and deceased entries. He further alleged that the Congress party praises the commission when they win but blames it when they lose.

Entities

Bharatiya Janata Party · Congress Party · Election Commission of India · G. Kishan Reddy · Gyanesh Kumar · Indian National Congress · Narendra Modi · Rahul Gandhi · Revanth Reddy

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Arvind Kejriwal stated that instead of targeting the Chief Election Commissioner, opposition movements should demand the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. hindi.webdunia.com
[● 5 SOURCES] During various protests, Congress workers burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and CEC Gyanesh Kumar. bhaskarlive.in · www.sentinelassam.com · theshillongtimes.com · www.newindianexpress.com · nagalandpost.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy claimed the West Bengal coal sector was historically controlled by illegal mining mafias. www.deccanchronicle.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy accused the Congress party of double standards, alleging they praise the Election Commission when they win but blame it and EVMs when they lose. desitalkchicago.com · www.bhaskarhindi.com · samacharnama.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The Congress party organized protests across 10 Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Assam, to demand the resignation of the CEC. www.nayaindia.com · hindi.asianetnews.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Reports indicate that Election Commissioners recorded official objections on at least 14 occasions over a 10-month period regarding the commission's decisions. www.newindianexpress.com · www.nayaindia.com
[● 9 SOURCES] The Congress party is demanding the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar due to alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. bhaskarlive.in · hindi.asianetnews.com · www.nayaindia.com · www.sentinelassam.com · theshillongtimes.com · +4 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy claimed that approximately 13 crore votes have been omitted from electoral rolls ahead of the 2029 elections. newsmeter.in