The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) held a protest in Imphal on September 25, demanding the arrest and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as part of the Congress’s nationwide agitation against the poll panel chief.
Congress workers marched towards the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manipur, at Lamphelpat and attempted to enter the premises. The demonstration led to a confrontation with security personnel, who fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters.
The protest followed the Congress’s nationwide call for demonstrations outside state election offices. The party has sought Kumar’s removal and an independent review of decisions and changes made to electoral rolls during his tenure.
Addressing the gathering, MPCC president and senior Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh questioned the functioning of the Election Commission and the decision-making process within the three-member panel.
Ibobi referred to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “vote chori” and said the issue had gained renewed attention following reports of differences among members of the Election Commission.
He alleged that key decisions were being taken by the CEC despite the Election Commission having three members, and claimed that the other two Election Commissioners had raised objections to some decisions.
“The protection of democracy cannot be ignored,” Ibobi said, while demanding Kumar’s arrest and removal.
The allegations came amid reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections on several occasions over issues related to voter registration, electoral-roll deletions and data handling. The Indian Express reported that the two commissioners had recorded at least 14 objections over 10 months.
The Election Commission has rejected suggestions of a split within the three-member panel, saying individual views and operational inputs expressed during deliberations were part of the decision-making process. It maintained that decisions, including those concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, were ultimately taken unanimously.
The Congress has also announced a second phase of protests at district collectorates on September 28.
