Sunny Khurma
Cheif Editor
Ludhiana, October 1, 2026: Congress workers staged a protest in Raikot in Ludhiana district, burning effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar while raising allegations of irregularities in the electoral process and demanding greater transparency in voter rolls.
The demonstration was led by Raikot Congress constituency in-charge Kamil Amar Singh. Lok Sabha MP Dr Amar Singh, Punjab Congress co-in-charge Ravinder Dalvi and Ludhiana Rural Congress president Major Singh Mullanpur were also present during the protest.
Congress workers raised slogans alleging “vote theft” and questioned the handling of electoral rolls in different parts of the country. Party leaders claimed that irregularities in voter lists and election-related procedures had affected the integrity of the electoral process.
The leaders also raised questions relating to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and demanded greater transparency and accountability in the functioning of the country’s election machinery. These accusations are political allegations made by Congress and have not been established as findings of a court.
Dr Amar Singh and Ravinder Dalvi demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, arguing that recent questions raised over decisions concerning voter rolls require greater public scrutiny.
Gyanesh Kumar is currently serving as India’s Chief Election Commissioner alongside Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
The controversy over electoral rolls has intensified nationally following reports of differences within the Election Commission over certain procedures connected with additions and deletions from voter lists and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision process.
The Election Commission has maintained that its electoral-roll procedures operate within the legal framework and has described differences among commissioners as part of the institutional decision-making process. It has also initiated a review of its voter-roll software and announced changes to some procedures following the recent controversy.
The BJP has rejected opposition allegations that the electoral process was manipulated to benefit the ruling party and has maintained that Election Commission procedures are legally valid.
During the Raikot demonstration, Congress leaders said maintaining public confidence in elections requires complete transparency in voter registration, deletion of names and other changes to electoral rolls.
They also called for accountability over decisions affecting voters and said citizens should have clear information about changes made to electoral records.
The protest in Ludhiana is part of a wider political confrontation over voter lists and election administration, with opposition parties holding demonstrations in several parts of the country and demanding action over their allegations.
The Election Commission and the ruling BJP continue to dispute claims that the electoral system has been manipulated, while Congress and other opposition parties are pressing for further scrutiny of the voter-roll revision process.
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