Congress Protest in Lucknow Demands Election Chief’s Resignation

Congress leaders and workers in Lucknow protested on September 25, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged election irregularities and the Election Commission’s handling of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Police blocked the march toward the Uttar Pradesh Assembly with barricades; after protesters climbed them and a scuffle followed, hundreds were detained and taken to Eco Garden. One account said they were released later that evening. The demonstration was part of a Congress protest campaign in several cities. In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai, party general secretary Rajendra Pal Gautam and Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra joined the march. Protesters carried placards and raised slogans accusing the Election Commission of vote theft. The party said it was seeking accountability over the conduct of elections and the revision of voter rolls. Rai, who challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha election in Varanasi, alleged that Kumar helped secure Modi’s victory through vote-rigging. He called for the Varanasi result to be cancelled and the election held again.