Protest March by West Bengal Congress in Kolkata Demanding Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Police Halted at B.B. Ganguly Street
**Kolkata:** The West Bengal Pradesh Congress held a march in Kolkata on Friday demanding the resignation and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. As part of the Congress's announced program across the country, party leaders and workers started the march from College Street towards the Election Commission's office. However, it has been alleged by Congress that the police stopped the march near B.B. Ganguly Street.
The march was led by Pradesh Congress President Shubankar Sarkar. A tug-of-war ensued between Congress workers and the police regarding the halting of the march. Various reports have mentioned that a effigy of Gyanesh Kumar was also burned during the protest.
This nationwide program of Congress is primarily based on the party's allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner and the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. On Thursday, Congress had directed its state units to march towards the Election Commission's office and demanded the arrest and removal of Gyanesh Kumar.
Congress alleges that there is a risk of valid voters' names being omitted in the SIR and voter list revision process. The party has also raised various questions regarding the registration of new voters. Congress has expressed concerns regarding the voting rights of young and first-time voters. However, these are political allegations from Congress; the Election Commission has stated that decisions regarding SIR were made with the consensus of three election commissioners.
Recently, there has also been controversy regarding differences within the Election Commission concerning SIR. A report from *The Indian Express* claimed that in the last 10 months, Election Commissioners Sukbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections multiple times regarding various decisions related to SIR. However, the Election Commission stated that decisions regarding SIR were made unanimously.
In this situation, Congress and some opposition parties have also demanded to initiate the process of removal of Gyanesh Kumar at the parliamentary level. Reports have emerged in the media that opposition parties are preparing to bring proposals in both houses of Parliament regarding this issue.
Congress leadership expressed anger over the police's obstruction of the march in Kolkata. They stated that stopping the march will not halt the movement. A warning of larger programs in the future has also been issued by the party.
Friday's program was not limited to Kolkata alone. Protests by Congress against Gyanesh Kumar were held across the country. Incidents of clashes between protesters and police and arrests have also been reported in various states.
