Congress Protests Across Rajasthan Demanding Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner

Jaipur, September 29: Congress party workers staged protests in nearly 30 district headquarters across Rajasthan on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. This movement follows a demonstration in Jaipur on Monday, leading the state Congress to announce district-level actions.

According to the Congress, the protests were driven by three main demands: the alleged unilateral decisions made by the Chief Election Commissioner, manipulation of voter lists, and the centralization of the Election Commission‘s IT system.

29 District Congress Committees Join Forces

On Tuesday, 29 district Congress committees participated in the protests. Both urban and rural committees from cities like Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ajmer, and Bikaner united for this cause.

The protests unfolded in various districts, including Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Alwar, Nagaur, Sikar, Churu, Tonk, Pali, Jalore, Jaisalmer, Sri Ganganagar, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Dungarpur, Banswara, Pratapgarh, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar, Dausa, Dholpur, Sawai Madhopur, and Bhilwara, along with newly formed districts like Khetra-Tijara, Didwana-Kuchaman, Phalodi, Salumber, and Beawar.

In Ajmer, police clashed with protesters outside the collectorate, leading to the detention of several leaders, including former minister Raghu Sharma, who were later released.

Congress Delegation Submits Memorandum

On the same day, a Congress delegation led by state president Govind Singh Dotasra and opposition leader Tikaram Julie met with State Election Commissioner Rajeshwar Singh to submit a memorandum.

The memorandum raised concerns about alleged misconduct in recent local elections, discrepancies in voter lists, the Special Intensive Review (SIR), and “vote theft.” It is important to note that the State Election Commission oversees local and panchayat elections, while Gyanesh Kumar is the Chief Election Commissioner of India.

March from Kotgate to Collectorate in Bikaner

In Bikaner, Congress workers from both urban and rural committees marched from Kotgate to the district collector’s office, carrying placards demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. The event saw participation from AICC Secretary and Rajasthan Congress co-in-charge Chiranjeev Rao and local leaders.

Rao emphasized that the Election Commission is a constitutional body that must remain impartial. He referenced Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “vote theft,” stating that Congress will continue to raise this issue among the public.

Effigies Burned in Didwana and Dholpur

At the Didwana-Kuchaman district headquarters, Congress workers led by MLA and district president Zakir Hussain Gesawat burned an effigy of Gyanesh Kumar, demanding an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in the voter list and election process.

In Dholpur, Congress activists also expressed their dissent by burning an effigy.

Clashes with Police in Alwar

In Alwar, Congress workers marched from Malviya Nagar Circle to the mini-secretariat. Tensions escalated as they clashed with police near barricades while heading towards the collectorate. Former district president Yogesh Mishra and other local officials participated in the protest.

Memorandum Submitted in Sawai Madhopur

In Sawai Madhopur, under the leadership of district president and Bamanwas MLA Indira Meena, Congress workers gathered at Ambedkar Circle and marched to the collectorate to submit a memorandum to the President. The memorandum accused the Chief Election Commissioner of favoring the BJP and demanded a high-level independent investigation into the SIR and voter list decisions.

Protesters Carry Black Balloons in Bhilwara

In Bhilwara, Congress workers protested outside the district collectorate, with many carrying black balloons as a symbol of dissent. Former revenue minister and rural Congress district president Ramlal Jat raised questions regarding the voter list and Form No. 6 process, urging workers to verify their names on the voter list.

Election Commission Rejects Allegations

This campaign by Congress is part of a broader protest movement occurring nationwide. During the demonstration in Jaipur on Monday, police used water cannons, detaining several leaders, including former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

In response, the Election Commission denied allegations of bias in the electoral process, asserting that decisions related to voter lists were made following legal procedures. The Commission emphasized that internal discussions are a standard part of institutional processes. The BJP dismissed the opposition’s claims as politically motivated.

The allegations of “vote theft” and irregularities raised by Congress are political assertions that have not been independently verified.

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Ganpat Singh Chouhan: My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.