Police officers from Uttar Pradesh Police rushed to the Hariparwat area of Agra after a report of a disturbance at the residence of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Officers found the main gate covered with black paint and the slogan ‘Vote Chor, Gaddar Gyanesh’ written on the wall, which was subsequently removed by security staff on the spot.
The incident comes amid a wave of opposition protests against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which party leaders say is riddled with irregularities. The Congress Working Committee is scheduled to convene on September 29 to decide how to respond, while the National Democratic Alliance has already filed a notice in Parliament seeking Kumar’s resignation.
UP Police are combing CCTV footage from cameras around the residence to identify the perpetrators, and security has been heightened around the CEC’s home. Simultaneously, the opposition is preparing a removal notice that could be presented to both Houses of Parliament after legal vetting.
Residents of the Hariparwat neighbourhood reported the commotion in the early morning, with one vendor saying the noise disrupted his morning routine. The protest also followed a series of objections raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over the SIR process.
The coordinated opposition effort, which included a joint letter from 23 parties and an independent MP to the Chief Justice of India, signals a growing challenge to the Election Commission’s authority as the general election approaches.