Agra, August 18, 2025 – The Agra City Congress Committee stirred up a storm today by staging a protest outside the Vijay Nagar residence of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration, announced earlier by the committee, was in response to what Congress leaders call “vote theft” by the BJP and the Election Commission. According to videos circulated by different users on X, hundreds of Congress workers gathered near Kumar’s home, chanting slogans and demanding his resignation, accusing him of bias toward the ruling party.
The situation grew tense as police set up heavy barricades to block the protesters from reaching the residence. Videos shared on social media show a large crowd facing off with security forces, who turned the area into a fortress to keep things under control. District Congress Committee President Amit Singh led the charge, claiming, “The Chief Election Commissioner is playing for the BJP’s team. We want him to step down.”
The police, alerted by the Congress’s announcement, were quick to act. Reports say they deployed extra forces to prevent any trouble, and no major clashes were reported. The protest has sparked a heated debate, with many see it as a political stunt. This bold move by the Congress has put Agra in the spotlight. For now, the authorities are keeping a close watch, and the Congress vows to keep up the pressure.
Over the past few days, the opposition, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, has been vocal about alleged “vote chori” (vote theft) in states like Bihar, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh. They claim the Election Commission manipulated voter lists during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, deleting millions of names to favor the BJP.
Gandhi has pointed to irregularities like duplicate voters and invalid addresses, alleging the Commission helped the ruling party win key seats. The opposition’s “Voter Adhikar Yatra” in Bihar, launched on August 17, has amplified these accusations, with leaders like Tejashwi Yadav claiming the SIR process targets opposition-leaning voters.
In a press conference yesterday, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar strongly refuted these claims, calling them “baseless” and an “insult to the Constitution.” He insisted the SIR in Bihar, which removed 65 lakh names, was transparent, involving 1.6 lakh booth-level agents and all political parties.
Kumar challenged Gandhi to provide proof through a signed affidavit or apologize, stating, “No voter or the Commission is scared of such false allegations.” He emphasized that the process was fair, with voters and agents verifying rolls, and dismissed claims of bias, saying the Election Commission treats all parties equally.
