Hyderabad: The INDIA bloc’s Save Democracy protest in Hyderabad turned tense as leaders demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The leaders held a protest march from the Indira Gandhi statue on Necklace Road to Lok Bhavan.
The protesters raised slogans demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Several senior leaders joined the march, including Telangana ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Vakiti Srihari, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Mohammed Azharuddin and Sridhar Babu.
Meanwhile, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud and MP Asaduddin Owaisi also participated in the demonstration. Several other alliance leaders joined the rally.
When the protesters reached Lok Bhavan, police placed heavy barricades to stop the leaders from moving forward. Subsequently, an argument broke out between the police and the protesting leaders.
For some time, the situation remained tense near Lok Bhavan. Ponnam Prabhakar, Mahesh Kumar Goud and Vem Narender Reddy then sat on the road and continued their protest.
Save Democracy protest targets SIR and CEC
Later, police took Ponnam Prabhakar, Mahesh Kumar Goud, Vem Narender Reddy and others into custody. Police then shifted them in a DCM vehicle.
The INDIA bloc has raised objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls undertaken by the Election Commission. Accordingly, the alliance has demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
The alliance has also launched Save Democracy protest programmes across the country over the issue. Earlier, it had prepared a schedule for protests from October 2 to October 8.
Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc has also focused on its next course of action in Delhi. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hosted a dinner meeting for alliance leaders at Connaught Place in Delhi on Thursday.
Following the meeting, the alliance may hold another protest demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, according to the information provided.