On Sunday, 12 BJP chief ministers, joined by state leaders in non‑NDA states, convened press conferences in 12 capitals to defend the Election Commission against Rahul Gandhi's accusations. The chief ministers accused the opposition of “defaming constitutional institutions” without basis and demanded that the Congress stop its campaign of defamation.
Gandhi posted a cryptic message on X, then held a press conference demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were shielding him from accountability. He accused the 2024 Lok Sabha and recent state elections of rigging and called for the EC to be removed for treason.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal convened a virtual meeting with over 1,000 district Congress presidents ahead of Monday’s protests, urging a nationwide march to demand Kumar’s removal. Venugopal said the party would mobilise every district level committee to press for a change in leadership.
The Election Commission replied twice with press notes that the objections from Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi were merely disagreements that were resolved unanimously. The Commission stressed that all Special Intensive Revision (SIR) decisions had the full approval of its three members, leaving no room for dissent.
Congress plans to hold district‑level protests across the country tomorrow, signalling a coordinated campaign that could see thousands rallying in city and rural areas. The protests are expected to coincide with the election commission’s weekly briefing, potentially escalating tensions between the opposition and the ruling party.
In Delhi, a 45‑year‑old clerk working at the Election Commission’s office said he feared the protests would disrupt the daily voter‑roll updates, highlighting the personal stakes for civil servants caught in the political crossfire.