Why are Congress leaders protesting the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar?

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Gaurav Gogoi, other Congress leaders detained amid protest seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal

Gaurav Gogoi and many others from the party were protesting against irregularities in the Election Commission (EC) under Gyanesh Kumar’s watch.

Updated on: Sep 25, 2026, 18:36:46 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi and several other party leaders were detained by police in Guwahati on Friday during a protest demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, amid a political row over the Election Commission’s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi and others, during a protest carried out by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, in Guwahati, Assam. (PTI)

Gogoi and many others from the party were protesting against irregularities in the Election Commission (EC) under Kumar’s watch. They were arrested from GS Road in Guwahati.

“We were planning a democratic protest in front of Rajib Bhawan (the state Congress headquarters) against Kumar and how he has attacked the country’s election and democratic credentials,” Gogoi said in a video released by Congress soon after his detention.

“We were about to start when the police detained us. If they think they can keep Congress quiet by such acts, it shows their fear. We will keep on fighting to save India’s democracy,” the Nagaon MP and deputy leader of opposition in Lok Sabha added.

Besides Gogoi, several other leaders of the party who were present at the event were detained. More details are awaited.

Election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, two of the Election Commission’s three members, had formally objected at least 14 times in 10 months to decisions related to the rollout of the SIR of electoral rolls, The Indian Express reported on Wednesday.

Reacting to the report, the commission said on Sunday that the objections raised by the commissioners were “part of decision-making process”.

The report, though, has revived questions about the division of power between the CEC, currently Gyanesh Kumar, and the other two members of the Election Commission of India (ECI), and how the commission decides when they disagree. The Supreme Court has ruled on both the matters.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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