Sack Gyanesh Kumar and Protests Stop in 30 Seconds: Rahul Gandhi to Delhi Traders
Rahul Gandhi tells Delhi traders to demand the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar to end protests and stop massive business losses.
In a bold and direct appeal to the business community of the national capital, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has urged Delhi traders to demand the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Addressing the chaos and economic disruption currently gripping the city, Gandhi claimed that the central government is the true architect of the administrative lockdowns and transport nightmares facing the city.
The 'Accused No. 4' and a 30-Second Promise
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Rahul Gandhi labeled CEC Gyanesh Kumar as "accused no. 4" in a broader narrative of electoral mismanagement. In a striking ultimatum, Gandhi promised that if the business community pressures Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack the CEC, the opposition's protests would cease "within 30 seconds."
Gandhi argued that the government is responsible for the sealing of roads and the shutdown of the metro, which have hindered the movement of people and goods throughout the capital.
Traders Fear Billions in Festive Losses
The appeal comes at a time of high tension between commercial bodies and political organizers. The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has raised alarms over the INDIA bloc's upcoming "Save the Vote - Save the Country" rally, scheduled for November 1 at Ramlila Maidan.
The financial stakes are enormous. According to the CTI:
- Traffic diversions earlier in October have already resulted in estimated losses of approximately ₹3,000 crore.
- There are fears that the upcoming rally could lead to further losses of up to ₹10,000 crore.
- The timing is particularly critical as it coincides with the peak festive window of Dhanteras, Diwali, and Bhai Dooj.
In an attempt to mitigate these losses, the CTI had previously requested the INDIA alliance to postpone the rally until after November 10.
The INDIA Bloc's Core Demands
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has reinforced Gandhi's stance, accusing the Modi administration of protecting the CEC despite serious allegations of "vote theft." The INDIA bloc has outlined a clear set of demands to resolve the current political deadlock:
- The immediate resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
- The repeal of the 2023 law that provides protection to Election Commissioners.
- An immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
- A complete return to the use of paper ballots.
Rally Permissions Granted
Despite the concerns raised by the business community and the ongoing political tug-of-war, the Delhi Police has already granted permission for the rally. The permitted window for the event spans from October 25 to November 3, 2026, setting the stage for a high-stakes confrontation in the heart of the city.