INDIA Bloc Continues Protests Against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar Amid Tightened Delhi Security

Opposition parties are continuing their large-scale demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for the third straight day, following widespread protests and detentions in New Delhi. On Wednesday, roughly three hundred Opposition parliamentarians attempted a march from Parliament to Akashvani Bhavan to demand his resignation, while separate bus convoys headed toward Jantar Mandar before being blocked by Delhi Police near Janpath. During the Wednesday demonstrations, most participants and lawmakers were detained by law enforcement, though Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Congress general secretary KC Venugopal managed to enter the Akashvani Bhavan grounds to persist with their action. Ahead of the protests, Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge hosted a strategy lunch attended by various party leaders, though the Samajwadi Party with its thirty-seven Lok Sabha members skipped the meal due to communication gaps, despite plans to join the street protests. Parallel demonstrations are also scheduled outside Delhi, including a major gathering by the Cockroach Janta Party at Freedom Park in Bengaluru featuring actor Prakash Raj and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee.

Security Upgrade

In response to the mounting protests and demonstrations held near private residences, the Union government has upgraded the Z-plus security cover for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Additional security personnel have been stationed around his official residence, his family home in Agra, and the Election Commission headquarters, alongside the installation of new police pickets.

Context

The protests stem from a broader political controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and internal disagreements within the election panel. Reports of objections raised by fellow election commissioners have added fuel to the opposition's demands, while the poll body maintains that all of its decisions were made unanimously.