Aizawl, Sep 25: The Mizoram Congress on Friday staged a protest march in Aizawl calling for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging serious irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission, party leaders said.
Party alleges ignored recommendations, roll manipulation
Congress workers and office-bearers walked from Vanapa Hall to the State Election Commission office, where Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Lal Thanzara addressed the gathering and outlined the party's grievances. The MPCC claimed that concerns previously raised by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi had not been acted upon and said media reports had now exposed alleged lapses within the commission.
Thanzara asserted that CEC Gyanesh Kumar had disregarded suggestions made by two other election commissioners — Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi — over a period of around ten months. The party said the 14 recommendations flagged by Sandhu and Joshi were not implemented by the CEC.
"Vote theft"
At the rally, the MPCC president alleged that large numbers of voters were being removed from electoral rolls, a practice the party linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party's recent electoral successes in several states. He warned that if the present rolls were used in forthcoming polls, it could unfairly advantage the BJP, the party said.
Timing and political context
The protest comes as several states are due to go to the polls in the near future, heightening scrutiny of electoral preparedness and voter lists nationwide. The MPCC framed its action as a response to perceived institutional lapses at the central election body and as an effort to draw public attention to the matter ahead of the electoral calendar.
The demonstration involved party cadres and local office-bearers, who proceeded along a designated route to the State Election Commission premises. No immediate official response from the Election Commission or its local office in Mizoram was available at the time of reporting.
What the party demands
- Immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Accountability for alleged ignoring of recommendations by other election commissioners.
- Review and transparency in revision of electoral rolls to prevent alleged mass deletions.
The MPCC's demand centres on procedural transparency and adherence to norms within the election body. Party leaders framed the walk as peaceful and constitutional, aimed at pressing for corrective action rather than disrupting civic processes.
Official communications and next steps
As of Friday evening, there was no formal communication from the Election Commission addressing the specific allegations made by the Mizoram Congress. The MPCC indicated it would continue to press its case through demonstrations and by seeking redress from higher authorities if its demands were not met.
Observers noted the protest adds to a series of nationwide political challenges faced by the Election Commission in recent years, with opposition parties across states raising concerns about electoral rolls, administrative decisions and the need for institutional checks.
| Allegation / Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ignored recommendations | MPCC says CEC ignored 14 suggestions from two Election Commissioners over ~10 months |
| Voter roll deletions | Party alleges large numbers of voters removed from electoral rolls |
| Demand | Removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar |
The MPCC's action underscores heightened political tensions in Mizoram as parties prepare for upcoming contests. The state unit's leadership has signalled it will escalate the matter if it believes institutional channels do not yield satisfactory responses.
Further developments are likely as the election timetable advances and parties intensify scrutiny of administrative processes that govern voter registration and electoral conduct.
