CITU demands resignation of CEC over alleged erasure of 13 million votes

CITU activists burnt an effigy of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Tirupati on Saturday, demanding his resignation. | Photo credit: KV POORNACHANDRA KUMAR

Activists of the Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, who burnt his effigy at a protest near the Old Municipal Office in Tirupati on Saturday. They alleged that Mr. Gyaneshwar Kumar deleted 13 million votes under the guise of Special Intensive Review (SIR) process.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, CITU Vice President Vandavasi Nagaraju said, “If the BJP government at the Center respects the Constitution and democracy, it must provide transparent answers on Election Commission of India (ECI) matters and protect the rights of voters.

Along with the resignation of the CEC, the CITU leader also demanded responsibility for erasure of 13 million votes, restoration of electoral rights and an end to the suppression of protests in Delhi. He criticized the ECI and said it had trampled the constitution by erasing the names of millions of voters across the country.

The CITU leader alleged that the ECI was acting in favor of the BJP government rather than functioning independently. He further alleged that the misuse of the electoral system for the political interests of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah posed a threat to democracy.

He condemned the blocking of protesters heading to Delhi to voice their dissent, calling their detention, which prevented them from reaching the capital, an attack on democratic rights. He criticized measures taken to block protesters and questioned what kind of democracy detains people who come to voice their dissent and takes them to police stations.

Mr. Nagaraju said that the government should give answers to the public and that suppressing their voices was not appropriate from the BJP government. “By obstructing those fighting for their right to vote, the government is further fueling public suspicion of the electoral system,” he said.

Published – 10 Oct 2026 19:17 IST