Gujarat Congress Protests SIR, Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation

AHMEDABAD : Gujarat witnessed protests by Congress workers on Monday over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with demonstrations reported in Surat, Rajkot and Vadodara. The party demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and questioned the Election Commission’s handling of voter-list revisions.

The protests followed the Congress’s allegation that more than 13 crore names had been deleted from draft electoral rolls during the SIR exercise. Data reported by The Indian Express shows that more than 13 crore names were removed from draft rolls across 30 states and Union Territories.

In Surat, Congress workers staged a road blockade and raised slogans demanding Kumar’s resignation. Protesters carried placards questioning the autonomy of the Election Commission. Women activists also raised slogans, including, “Yeh andar ki baat hai, police hamare saath hai.”

The protest soon turned tense as police began detaining demonstrators. Some workers attempted to enter the Collector’s office after removing barricades near the gate. Police reinforcements were called in, leading to a heated confrontation between protesters and security personnel.

One activist reportedly lay down in front of a police vehicle carrying detained workers and was also taken into custody. Women protesters were among those detained.

In Rajkot, the Congress adopted a symbolic form of protest. A young activist wore a mask depicting Gyanesh Kumar and was tied with ropes before being taken into custody and brought to the Collector’s office.

In Vadodara, former Union Minister Bharatsinh Solanki led Congress workers in a black-clad protest. Workers wore black clothes and armbands and carried portraits of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. They also displayed banners asking, “Autonomous Election Commission or BJP’s Tool?”

Congress workers raised slogans such as “Vote chor, gadi chhod” and demanded the CEC’s resignation.

The Congress has alleged that the SIR process could exclude eligible voters. The Election Commission, however, has defended the exercise as a process to update electoral rolls. During his recent Gujarat visit, Kumar said complaints about excluded names would be resolved and pointed to a multi-level appeal process for voters.

The controversy has also faced judicial scrutiny. The Supreme Court recently raised concerns about notices issued during the SIR process in Delhi, while legal petitions have challenged aspects of the exercise.

The protests have added to the growing political debate over voter-list revisions, the Election Commission’s functioning and safeguards for eligible voters.