IYC Stages ‘Living Ghosts’ Protest, Targets CEC Gyanesh Kumar Over Election Commission
IYC Workers Protest, Seek Election Chief’s Resignation
Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers dressed as “living ghosts” staged a protest against the Election Commission on Friday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls. Wearing black robes, white masks and skulls around their necks, the protesters sought to draw attention to their claim that names of living voters had been removed from electoral rolls. The protesters attempted to march from the IYC office on Raisina Road towards Jantar Mantar, carrying posters and banners and raising slogans demanding accountability from Kumar. IYC workers said police stopped them outside their office as they tried to proceed towards the planned protest location.
Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed along the route, while barricades and detention buses were placed near the IYC office amid heightened security in central Delhi. Led by IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib, some protesters wore masks bearing the faces of Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The “living ghosts” theme was used to represent people whom the protesters alleged had been deleted from voter lists despite being alive. The demonstration formed part of the Congress youth wing’s continuing campaign over the Election Commission’s electoral-roll revision exercise, with protesters raising slogans including “CEC, resign”, “Election Commission, answer us” and “Save Democracy”.
Chib said the protest was aimed at seeking accountability from the poll panel and questioning its handling of electoral rolls. In a statement issued by the IYC, he argued that the Election Commission was responsible for protecting the sanctity of every vote and said concerns surrounding electoral-roll decisions required answers. He also said the Election Commission was a constitutional institution rather than an organisation belonging to any government or political party, and called for its credibility and impartiality to be addressed. These remarks reflected the IYC’s position on the controversy surrounding the voter-list revision.
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The IYC has alleged that names of living voters were removed from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and has accused the BJP of influencing the process. The youth wing has demanded Kumar’s resignation and has said it would continue protests and public-awareness campaigns seeking greater transparency in the electoral process. These allegations are contested, and the Election Commission has maintained that its electoral-roll revision procedures are intended to verify eligible voters and remove ineligible or duplicate entries. The poll panel has also ordered a special drive to identify and register eligible voters who may have been left out during the revision.
The IYC demonstration took place amid wider protests in Delhi against Kumar and the Election Commission over the electoral-roll controversy. Opposition parties, student organisations and civil society groups also gathered around Jantar Mantar on Friday, with protesters demanding Kumar’s resignation and raising concerns about the SIR process. Police imposed restrictions and detained protesters as groups attempted to reach the designated protest area. The IYC separately claimed that some of its workers stopped DTC buses at locations including DDU Marg and Janpath Road, climbed onto the buses and raised slogans demanding Kumar’s resignation.
The protest has added to the political debate over electoral-roll revisions ahead of upcoming elections in several states. While opposition groups have raised concerns about alleged voter deletions and the transparency of the process, the Election Commission has continued with measures to verify and update electoral rolls. For the IYC, the “living ghosts” demonstration was intended to visually highlight its allegations and increase pressure on the poll panel. The youth wing said it would continue its campaign for accountability and transparency, while the wider dispute over the SIR exercise remains a matter of political and institutional debate.
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