MP Congress Protests Across State Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Congress workers across Madhya Pradesh staged massive protests demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.
In a massive show of strength, the Congress party staged widespread demonstrations across Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. This follows a large-scale agitation in Bhopal earlier this week, marking an escalation in the party's fight against alleged irregularities in the electoral process.
State-wide Agitation Hits Collectorates
The protests were not limited to the capital; instead, party workers descended upon various district collectorates throughout the state. This organized movement follows a direct warning from Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari, who had previously vowed to intensify agitations in every district if the party's demands were not met.
The core of the Congress's grievance lies in the management of electoral rolls. Party leaders have accused the Election Commission of failing to address serious concerns regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the improper addition or deletion of voter names.
Allegations of Voter Disenfranchisement
In Gwalior, Congress MLA Sahab Singh Gurjar raised sharp criticisms against the current leadership of the Election Commission. He claimed that despite the presence of other Election Commissioners calling for inquiries, the CEC has taken an arbitrary approach to these critical issues.
Key allegations raised by the Congress include:
- Mass Deletions: The party alleges that approximately 13.30 crore votes have been deleted across the country, which they describe as a betrayal of the voters.
- Political Bias: Protesters alleged that these irregularities are being carried out at the behest of the BJP and RSS to influence electoral outcomes.
- Judicial Reliance: While demanding resignation, the party stated they have faith in the Supreme Court to protect the fundamental right to vote.
Symbolic Protests and Demands for Arrest
The intensity of the protest was visible in Dewas, where Congress workers took out a symbolic funeral procession. An effigy of CEC Gyanesh Kumar was carried to the Collectorate and subsequently burnt, while protesters shouted slogans such as "Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod" (Vote Thief, Leave the Seat).
In Indore, the protest took an even more aggressive tone. Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiate treason charges against the CEC. Verma claimed that the current government's formation in several states was facilitated by irregularities in the voter lists prepared under the CEC's watch.
The Congress party has made it clear that they will not back down, stating that if the resignation is not secured, they will continue their fight through national leaders like Rahul Gandhi and state leadership like Jitu Patwari.