New Delhi, 02 October (H.S.): The Indian Youth Congress staged a protest here on Thursday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. During the demonstration, protesters questioned the impartiality and functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and attempted to march towards the Election Commission office. However, Delhi Police stopped them by putting up barricades and detained several protesters.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar has been serving as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India since February 19, 2025, according to the Election Commission of India.

On the occasion, Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib said that the Election Commission is one of the country's most important democratic institutions, but questions regarding its impartiality have continued to arise among the public. He said that when questions are being raised about the functioning of the Election Commission, the Chief Election Commissioner should come forward and respond, and should resign rather than continue in office.

Chib said the Election Commission is not a private institution of any government or political party, but a constitutional institution integral to India's democratic system. He said that addressing questions concerning its credibility and impartiality is the responsibility of the Chief Election Commissioner and that avoiding accountability is not consistent with democratic principles.

During the protest, Youth Congress workers marching from the organisation's office towards the Election Commission were stopped by Delhi Police en route. Several workers were subsequently detained.

The demonstration was attended by Delhi Youth Congress president Akshay Lakra, Haryana Youth Congress president Nishit Kataria, national general secretaries Hari Krishna and Khushboo Sharma, Mitendra Darshan Singh, national secretary Satyawan Gehlot, Parminder Singh Pammi, Hanwaran Kansana, and several other office-bearers and workers of the organisation.

The protest was part of a series of demonstrations by opposition groups and civil society organisations concerning the functioning of the Election Commission and electoral-roll-related issues. Recent reports have also documented protests by the Youth Congress in Delhi seeking greater accountability and transparency in the electoral process and demanding the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar