Opposition demands removal of Gyanesh Kumar as CEC over alleged electoral roll discrepancies
Opposition parties and civic groups in Visakhapatnam held a protest demanding the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. They allege the Election Commission has lost its neutrality and failed to address concerns regarding voter roll discrepancies and electoral integrity.
Why it matters
Public distrust in the Election Commission of India poses a significant challenge to the perceived legitimacy of democratic processes in the world's largest democracy.
Members of the INDIA bloc, intellectuals, and progressive organisations staged a massive protest rally and fast demanding the immediate dismissal of Gyanesh Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) at the GVMC Gandhi Statue in Visakhapatnam on Saturday (October 10, 2026). They alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has compromised its constitutional neutrality and acted as an instrument of the ruling party at the Centre.
The protest began with a rally from the Gurazada statue at the RTC Complex and culminated in a hunger strike camp near the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) office. Leaders across political and civic fronts voiced serious concern over the erosion of democratic safeguards and the lack of transparency in recent electoral processes.
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