Post by : Rohit Dhiman

Congress workers and leaders held demonstrations across several parts of India on September 25, 2026, over the functioning of the Election Commission and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The protests were organised amid a growing political dispute over the way the electoral-roll revision exercise is being conducted and over questions raised by the opposition party about decisions taken by the poll panel. The nationwide mobilisation saw demonstrations in Delhi, Punjab, Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and other locations. In several places, Congress workers attempted to march towards offices of the Election Commission or Chief Electoral Officers. Police used barricades to stop some of the marches, while water cannons and, in some locations, tear gas were reported. Several protesters and political leaders were detained during the demonstrations.

Congress Demands Action Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

A central demand during the protests was the resignation and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Congress leaders have also called for an independent examination of decisions connected with the electoral-roll revision process. The demonstrations were linked to the wider political dispute surrounding Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission. Congress has argued that the issues surrounding the revision of electoral rolls require greater transparency and an independent review. The party's state units were directed to organise demonstrations and march towards election offices in different parts of the country. The scale and location of the protests varied from state to state, but the common focus was the Election Commission, the electoral-roll revision process and the demand for action against the CEC.

Protests Reported In Delhi, Punjab And Bihar

In Delhi, Indian Youth Congress workers gathered at Jantar Mantar and marched as part of the nationwide agitation. Delhi Congress also organised a separate demonstration, with party workers moving from the Congress office towards the BJP headquarters and subsequently towards the Election Commission office at Nirvachan Sadan. In Punjab, Congress leaders and workers demonstrated in Chandigarh. The protesters attempted to move towards the Election Commission office but were stopped by police barricades. Water cannons were used when protesters tried to move forward, and several people were detained. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring led the protest and demanded action against the CEC.

Assam, Uttar Pradesh And West Bengal Also Witness Demonstrations

In Assam, state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi and other senior party leaders were detained after protesters attempted to cross police barricades during the demonstration. The protest was organised around demands for action against the CEC and concerns over the electoral-roll revision process. In Uttar Pradesh, Congress workers protested in Lucknow despite heavy rain and demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. Police detained protesters during the demonstration. In West Bengal, Congress workers marched in Kolkata towards the office of the state's Chief Electoral Officer. The protesters were stopped by police, and an effigy of the CEC was burnt during the demonstration.

Manipur, Jammu And Kashmir And Other States Join Protest

The demonstrations were not limited to northern India. In Manipur, Congress workers protested outside the Chief Electoral Officer's office in Imphal. Police used tear gas shells to disperse protesters after the demonstration became tense. In Jammu, Congress workers and leaders held a demonstration outside the Election Commission office. Reports said several protesters and leaders were detained after they attempted to move towards the office. Congress workers also held demonstrations in Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Meghalaya. In several locations, protesters attempted to surround or march towards election offices and demanded the resignation or removal of Gyanesh Kumar.

Why SIR Has Become A Major Political Issue

The protests are taking place against the backdrop of the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of electoral rolls. The exercise has become a major political issue, with Congress raising questions about the handling of voter information and changes to electoral rolls. The controversy intensified after reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on several occasions over decisions and orders linked to the revision exercise. According to reports, the issues discussed included voter registration, deletion and restoration of names and access to electoral-roll databases. The Election Commission, however, has rejected the description of these internal discussions as institutional dissent. The poll panel has said that operational questions, internal feedback and administrative suggestions are part of the functioning of a multi-member constitutional body. 

Election Commission's Position

The Election Commission's position is important in understanding the dispute. While Congress has questioned the process and demanded an independent review, the poll panel has maintained that its decisions follow established legal and institutional procedures. The disagreement therefore centres not only on individual electoral-roll changes but also on how the revision process is being implemented and reviewed. The issue has now moved beyond individual state-level concerns and become part of a wider political confrontation between the opposition and the election authorities. Recent developments have also brought judicial scrutiny to aspects of the process. The Supreme Court has sought an explanation from the Election Commission regarding the rationale behind certain notices issued under the Delhi SIR process, including notices categorised as involving "logical discrepancies."

What The Protests Mean For Voters

For ordinary voters, the most important issue in the ongoing dispute is whether their names and details are correctly reflected in the electoral rolls. The SIR process involves verification and revision of voter information, making it important for affected electors to follow official notices and procedures applicable to them.

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