Kharge backs youth protests, demands CEC Kumar's resignation

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has publicly endorsed youth-led agitations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, articulating what he termed the party's "non-negotiable" demands. In a statement posted on X, Kharge set out the Congress's position on electoral governance, with the CEC's resignation featuring prominently among the party's core requirements.

The Congress chief's intervention represents a significant escalation in the party's challenge to the election commission's functioning. By lending the party's institutional weight to youth-led protests, Kharge has signaled that dissatisfaction with the poll body's leadership extends beyond grassroots activism to the highest echelons of the opposition.

The move comes amid broader scrutiny of the Election Commission's conduct and credibility. The Congress has repeatedly raised concerns about electoral processes and the independence of poll authorities, issues that have become increasingly contentious in Indian politics.

While Kharge outlined multiple demands in his statement, the focus on Kumar's removal underscores the Congress's assessment that change in the CEC's office is essential to restoring public confidence in electoral institutions. The party's mobilization of youth organizations around this issue indicates a sustained campaign on the matter in coming weeks.