NEW DELHI — Security around Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has been significantly bolstered following intensifying protests by the Opposition INDIA bloc and the Congress, demanding his immediate resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Sources confirmed that round-the-clock security and additional police personnel have been deployed at Kumar’s residence in Delhi, his family home, and the Election Commission of India headquarters. Kumar, who already holds Z+ security cover, faced heightened threat assessments after demonstrators breached the perimeter near his residence during recent demonstrations.
Internal Red Flags Fuel Opposition Demands
The nationwide political storm intensified after reports surfaced that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally recorded dissenting notes on at least 14 occasions over the last 10 months. The commissioners raised concerns that key decisions and directives regarding the SIR process were issued without their prior consultation or recommendation.
While the Election Commission clarified that internal dissent and differing viewpoints are a routine part of democratic decision-making, emphasizing that all orders carry full legal sanction, Opposition leaders have refused to tone down their demand for Kumar’s resignation over alleged “vote theft.”
“To save the Constitution and democracy, the Congress Party and the opposition are ready to take to the streets as many times as needed, face arrests, or endure legal cases,” Rahul Gandhi posted on X, vowing that protests will continue until accountability is established.
High-Voltage Demonstrations and Street Agitations
The ongoing political confrontation has led to widespread demonstrations across the national capital:
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Standoffs on Delhi Streets: Demonstrations saw high drama in central Delhi, where leaders including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra held sit-ins on key roads while holding copies of the Constitution, leading to brief detentions and scuffles with police forces.
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Targeting of Personal Property: Security concerns were previously heightened in September after protesters demonstrated outside Kumar’s ancestral property in Agra, defacing walls and gates with slogans.
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Widespread Political Calls: Opposition parties have called for further demonstrations, including a planned rally by political groups at Jantar Mantar on October 10 alongside ongoing protests organized by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Despite law enforcement agencies registering FIRs against key Congress leaders following the street actions, Opposition parties remain unified in their stance to press for institutional transparency and the CEC’s resignation.
