Congress Mobilizes Nationwide Protests Against Election Commissioner

In Jaipur, authorities deployed water cannons to disperse crowds, while in Surat, police detained demonstrators gathered outside the Collector’s office. The protests reflect intensifying friction between the opposition and the Election Commission. Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari questioned the integrity of recent electoral processes, claiming the current administration operates under a cloud of public distrust. In Hyderabad, party leaders marched to the local EC office, formally submitting a memorandum demanding Kumar’s immediate departure.

Opposition leaders, including Pawan Khera, characterized the Special Intensive Revision process as legally flawed, arguing that changes to voter forms require parliamentary oversight that was bypassed. This push for resignation is supported by a broader coalition of opposition groups, including the CPI, CPI(M), Trinamool Congress, and Shiv Sena (UBT). Concerns were amplified by recent reports of internal friction within the commission, specifically regarding 14 objections raised by other commissioners over a ten-month period.

The Election Commission maintains that all decisions were unanimous and that internal debate is a standard component of administrative procedure. Union Minister JP Nadda dismissed the allegations as part of a calculated campaign to mislead the public. He accused opposition figures, specifically Rahul Gandhi, of manufacturing crises without evidence, asserting that repeated accusations do not alter the established facts of the commission's operations.