The Rajasthan unit of the Congress staged a protest in Jaipur on Monday, September 28, against the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and what the party termed “vote theft.” Congress leaders and workers marched from the Shaheed Smarak towards the State Election Commission office, raising concerns over the electoral process.
Police Stop March
The protest march was stopped by police as demonstrators moved towards the Election Commission office. Police used water cannons to disperse the protesters after the march was halted. Reports also said that clashes took place between protesters and police during the demonstration, with some Congress leaders being detained.
Congress Raises SIR Concerns
The demonstration was linked to Congress' objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party has alleged irregularities in the voter-list revision process and has questioned the functioning of the Election Commission. Congress leaders have also called for greater transparency in the revision exercise.
Leaders Join Demonstration
Several senior Rajasthan Congress leaders participated in the protest, including former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasara. The party had announced the Jaipur protest earlier as part of its campaign against what it describes as irregularities in the electoral process.
Wider Political Protest
The Jaipur demonstration was part of broader Congress protests being held across the country on September 28 over electoral-roll issues and demands concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Congress has sought his resignation, while the Election Commission and its officials have been at the centre of the ongoing political dispute over the SIR exercise.
The Jaipur protest brought the debate over voter-list revision and electoral transparency into the streets, with the confrontation between protesters and police adding to the day's political activity in Rajasthan.