INDIA bloc MPs stage sit-in at Election Commission, demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation

NEW DELHI — Members of Parliament from the INDIA bloc staged a sit-in protest at the headquarters of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday, demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration, led by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, marked a sharp escalation in the political standoff between the opposition alliance and the electoral body, which has faced sustained criticism over its recent administrative decisions.

The protest began in the early afternoon as a group of opposition MPs and party leaders marched from the Parliament complex towards the ECI building in New Delhi. Upon reaching the premises, the group was stopped by security personnel, leading to a standoff that lasted for several hours. During the march, Rahul Gandhi addressed the gathering, directing his remarks specifically at the Chief Election Commissioner. He stated that the current administration of the ECI had compromised its neutrality and urged Gyanesh Kumar to step down from his post.

“Gyanesh, it’s done, bro. Time to resign,” Gandhi told the crowd, a remark that was widely shared on social media platforms. The Congress leader alleged that the ECI had failed to act impartially in several recent electoral disputes, including the disqualification of candidates and the handling of criminal cases against sitting legislators. He argued that the commission’s actions had created an uneven playing field for opposition parties in the upcoming state elections.

Other prominent INDIA bloc leaders, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) representatives, joined the protest. They carried placards with slogans demanding the resignation of the CEC and calling for an independent inquiry into the commission’s recent orders. The protesters also demanded the release of pending election-related cases and the restoration of the rights of disqualified candidates.

The Election Commission of India did not issue an immediate official response to the protest. However, a senior official at the ECI headquarters stated that the commission was aware of the gathering and that security arrangements had been strengthened to ensure the safety of the protesters and the staff. The official added that the ECI would address the concerns raised by the opposition through the appropriate legal and administrative channels.

The protest comes at a time of heightened political tension in India, with several state elections scheduled for the latter half of 2026. The INDIA bloc, which includes the Indian National Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), and several regional parties, has been increasingly vocal in its criticism of the ECI. The opposition has alleged that the commission has shown a bias in favor of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, particularly in the handling of criminal cases against opposition leaders.

Legal experts have noted that the ECI is an independent constitutional body, and its decisions are subject to judicial review by the Supreme Court of India. The commission’s actions are governed by the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Constitution of India. Critics of the ECI argue that the commission has not exercised its powers impartially, while supporters maintain that the ECI has acted within its legal mandate to ensure free and fair elections.

The sit-in protest at the ECI headquarters is the latest in a series of demonstrations by the INDIA bloc against the electoral body. In recent months, opposition parties have organized rallies and press conferences to highlight what they describe as the ECI’s bias. The BJP, for its part, has dismissed the opposition’s allegations as politically motivated and has defended the ECI’s actions as necessary to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.

As the protest continued into the late afternoon, police deployed a large number of personnel around the ECI building to prevent any further escalation. The opposition leaders announced that they would continue their campaign for the CEC’s resignation through legal and democratic means. The ECI, meanwhile, reiterated its commitment to conducting free and fair elections in accordance with the Constitution and the law.