Congress holds protest demanding removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Source: The Sangai Express

Kakching/Kangpokpi/Thoubal, September 28 2026: Protest demonstrations were staged by Congress members and supporters in Kakching, Kangpokpi and Thoubal districts today demanding immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and an independent probe into alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions, voter registration and deletion of names, including those linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The protests were carried out in pursuance of directives from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).

In Kakching, slogans against CEC Gyanesh Kumar were shouted and his effigy were burnt during a protest organised by Kakching District Congress Committee.

Leaders, members and supporters of Congress from 4 blocks of Kakching took part in the protest and carried placards which read 'Gyanesh kumar is the enemy of construction', 'Gyanesh Kumar is the enemy of India', 'We want an independent Election Commission, not a puppet', 'Save democracy, save vote', 'Election must be free and fair', 'Democracy under threat, Gyaneshkumar Down down, 'Narendra Modi down down' and shouted slogans.

The protestors carried out a march towards Deputy Commissioner Kakching office but they were stopped near Kakching Post Office by personnel of Kakching District Police and RAF.

Following the obstruction, the march culminated at Kakching Keithel.

Kangpokpi

The Sadar Hills District Congress Committee (SH-DCC) organised a district-level protest in Kangpokpi district and a delegation of the SH-DCC, led by its president Dr Lamtinthang Haokip, met Kangpokpi District Election Officer Hemant Kumar, and submitted a representation addressed to the President of India through the District Election Authorities, seeking action against Gyanesh Kumar.

The move came days after an investigation published by The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections at least 14 times over a 10-month period on several decisions and procedures relating to electoral rolls and the SIR exercise.

According to the report, the objections covered issues including the addition of new voters, deletion and restoration of names, changes to the voter-registration process and concerns over the centralisation and custody of electoral-roll data.

The SH-DCC alleged that the revelations had raised "serious questions" over the functioning and credibility of the Election Commission and claimed that the concerns previously voiced by Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, warranted a comprehensive examination.

The Congress committee further alleged that the electoral machinery had been subjected to unilateral decision-making and demanded that all electoralroll decisions taken during Kumar's tenure be reviewed.

The district Congress committee asserted that the Election Commission must function in the interest of the people and maintain public confidence in the electoral process.

In a separate representation submitted through the Kangpokpi'District Election Officer for onward transmission to the Governor of Manipur, the SH-DCC formally sought action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over what it described as serious concerns surrounding the functioning of the ECI, electoral-roll processes and the SIR exercise.

The representation, signed by SH-DCC president Dr Lamtinthang Haokip and general secretary Dr Mangkholal Haokip, was also endorsed by the presidents of the 50-Kangpokpi, 51-Saitu and 46-Saikul Block Congress Committees, besides the district Mahila Congress and Youth Congress presidents.

The memorandum referred to the reported objections raised by the other two Election Commissioners and said the developments had deepened concerns over voter registration, deletion and restoration of names, electoral data management and the SIR process.

The SH-DCC urged the competent authorities to examine the allegations independently and review electoral-roll changes and administrative decisions taken during Kumar's tenure.

The representation concluded with an appeal for "free, fair and transparent elections", describing them as fundamental to Indian democracy and urging the authorities to thoroughly examine all concerns relating to the integrity of electoral processes.

Thoubal

Joining in the protest, Congress workers in Thoubal district burnt the effigy of CEC Gyanesh Kumar in front of Thoubal DC office and took out a protest rally.

A large number of Congress Youth Wing, Mahila Congress and Seva Dal members joined the protest organised by the District Congress Committee (DCC) Thoubal and carried out a protest rally from Congress office at Thoubal Athokpam till Arongthong in National Highway 102 and turned back.

On the way back, the protestors shouted slogans in front of the DC Thoubal office and burnt the effigy of Gyanesh Kumar while the police personnel posted there tried to control the protest.

The rallyists used placards which read 'Save Democracy Save Election Commission', 'Democracy Under Threat, Protect Voter, Protect India', 'Arrest CEC Gyanesh Kumar', 'Our Vote Our Right', 'Gyanesh Kumar is a Traitor' and 'Down Down BJP' and shouted similar slogans.

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