Congress and CJP Demand Chief Election Commissioner's Resignation Over Internal Poll Panel Row

Protest Threat

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar faces a nationwide protest threat from the CJP if he does not step down by tomorrow. Abhijit Dipak posted on X that the nationwide agitation will begin in Mumbai on October 2 and spread across various cities in India. The group called on citizens to take a pledge to protect democracy on Gandhi Jayanti.

Core Demands

The CJP raised three main demands during a press conference on Thursday. First, the group wants a criminal case started immediately against Gyanesh Kumar and an answer on who gave him orders. Second, they demand the halt of all upcoming elections and the SIR, alongside restoring the voter list from January 2025 and setting up an independent committee to investigate the SIR decision-making process. Third, they demand the scrap of the 2023 law for appointing election commissioners, asking for a new law made with public intellectuals that wins people's trust.

Background Report

A report by The Indian Express on Wednesday stated that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected to Gyanesh Kumar's decisions at least 14 times over the last 10 months regarding voter lists, form changes, and data control, but their objections were ignored. This report sparked strong reactions from opposition parties. Following a successful protest at Jantar Mantar, the CJP is ready to hit the streets again.