Congress Demands Arrest Of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Nationwide Protests Launched Today

In a significant escalation of political tensions, the Congress party has launched a massive nationwide offensive against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, while congress General Secretary KC Venugopal has formally demanded the immediate arrest of the CEC, accusing him of engaging in anti-national activities and orchestrating a large-scale campaign of vote theft. This move comes shortly after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi intensified his attacks on the functioning of the Election Commission, alleging that it's being controlled by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Allegations of Vote Theft and Constitutional Violations

KC Venugopal stated that Rahul Gandhi has been exposing the massive vote theft campaign led by CEC Gyanesh Kumar from day one. He alleged that the Election Commission, under Kumar's leadership, has been operating as an extension of the BJP. According to Venugopal, recent media reports have confirmed these suspicions, revealing that constitutional processes were bypassed to make critical decisions. The Congress leader asserted that Gyanesh Kumar has lost the moral authority to hold his position and must resign immediately to protect the integrity of the democratic process.

Internal Dissent Within the Election Commission

The Congress party's allegations are bolstered by reports concerning internal friction within the Election Commission of India, while venugopal referred to a report in the Indian Express which highlighted that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised serious objections. These objections were related to various decisions concerning the voter list, including voter registration, the deletion of names, and access to electoral data. The fact that Kumar's own colleagues expressed concerns has been cited by Congress as proof that the electoral process is being weakened from within.

The Goa Voter List Controversy

A specific instance of alleged manipulation was highlighted regarding the state of Goa. Venugopal claimed that during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Goa, a large number of voters had their names removed from the rolls. When 38 residents of Goa filed complaints with the State Election Commission regarding the deletion of their names, the state body recommended their reinstatement. However, it's alleged that CEC Gyanesh Kumar personally refused to allow these names to be added back. Venugopal used this as a primary example of how the voter lists are being manipulated across the country to favor the ruling party.

Nationwide Protest Schedule

To press for their demands, the Congress party has organized a two-phase protest strategy. The first phase begins on September 25, where all Pradesh Congress Committees (PCCs) have been directed to lead massive protest marches to their respective State Election Commission offices. The primary demands of these marches include the immediate arrest of Gyanesh Kumar, his removal from the post of CEC, and a full, impartial investigation into all decisions and voter list changes made during his tenure.

Second Phase of Protests

The second phase of the agitation is scheduled for Monday, September 28. On this day, all District Congress Committees (DCCs) will organize similar large-scale protest marches to their respective District Collectorates. KC Venugopal emphasized that the protests will continue relentlessly until Gyanesh Kumar is removed from office, sent to jail, and all decisions made under his leadership are reversed. The party maintains that the protection of democracy is at stake and they won't back down until their demands are met.

Allegations of Centralized Control and Conspiracy

Venugopal further alleged a deeper conspiracy involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and CEC Gyanesh Kumar to take control of the Indian electoral system. He claimed that local Returning Officers and State Election Commissions no longer have full access to voter lists because they're centrally controlled by the Election Commission's IT department in Delhi. This centralization, according to the Congress leader, allows for the manipulation of lists at a national level, effectively turning the CEC into an agent of the Prime Minister.