Hyderabad: A Congress protest drew a large gathering in Hyderabad as party leaders and workers demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration formed part of nationwide protests called by the AICC.
First, Congress leaders and workers gathered near the Indira Gandhi statue on Necklace Road. From there, they marched towards the Election Commission office.
Meanwhile, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, ministers Sridhar Babu, Ponnam Prabhakar and Azharuddin, MLAs, senior leaders and party workers joined the rally.
Congress protest raises allegations over SIR
During the Congress protest, party leaders accused the BJP-led Centre and the Election Commission of weakening independent constitutional institutions. They also alleged that the Centre was using the Election Commission for political interests.
In addition, the protesters raised allegations about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They alleged that the process involved a large-scale conspiracy and could affect people’s voting rights.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders accused Gyanesh Kumar of acting under the central government’s influence. They alleged that he had failed to maintain impartiality and therefore demanded his immediate resignation.
The leaders also said Congress would continue its campaign until it believed democracy had been protected. Subsequently, party workers raised slogans against the Centre and the Election Commission during the protest.