Pune VIDEOS: Pimpri-Chinchwad Congress Protests In Nigdi Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar Over Voter Roll Revision Row

In Pimpri-Chinchwad, Congress party members held a protest outside the Tehsildar office in Nigdi on Monday to voice their discontent with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission's handling of the voter roll revision process. Led by Pimpri-Chinchwad City District Congress president Narendra Bansode, the demonstrators chanted slogans against Kumar, demanding his dismissal.

The rally was part of Maharashtra Congress' statewide protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which has sparked controversy and disagreements among Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. Congress workers demanded Kumar's removal, alleging bias in the electoral-roll revision process.

Bansode accused the Election Commission of being biased in favor of the BJP, alleging that names of voters opposed to the party were being removed from the electoral rolls while those supporting the BJP were being added. He also questioned the difficulty in the voter registration process and changes linked to Form 6, used for new voter registration. Bansode called for an investigation into decisions taken during Kumar's tenure and demanded greater transparency from the Election Commission.

The Election Commission has rejected the allegations, stating that all SIR orders were approved unanimously by all three Commissioners and that changes to Form 6 had received their approval. The Commission also announced measures to ease the SIR process for voters, including extending the deadline for filing claims and objections and increasing online hearings and help desks. The Nigdi protest reflects a broader dispute over the electoral-roll revision process and the functioning of the Election Commission.