Congress holds padayatra demanding removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
Congress party members in Yadgir held a protest demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstrators accused the Election Commission of being biased toward the ruling BJP and undermining democratic processes.
Why it matters
Public protests against constitutional bodies reflect deep-seated concerns regarding the independence of electoral institutions in a democracy.
Congress party leaders and workers on Tuesday took out a padayatra in Yadgir, demanding the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of functioning under political pressure from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre.
Led by Yadgir MLA Channareddy Patil Tunnur, a large number of supporters marched from Mailapur Base through key thoroughfares before culminating in a public rally at Gandhi Chowk in the old town area.
Addressing the demonstration, Mr. Tunnur alleged that the Union government had been abusing power and manipulating constitutional bodies, including the ECI, to compromise the integrity of elections. He claimed that recent measures taken under the leadership of Mr. Kumar had disproportionately affected the voting rights of Dalits, Backward Classes, minorities, and economically weaker sections.
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