Recent allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar suggest unilateral actions disregarding his colleagues’ views. NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Friday clarified that the cancellation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s youth outreach events in Uttar Pradesh had nothing to do with the ongoing row over alleged internal differences in the poll body but were necessiated due to various logistical factors.”Adjustments in dates of events is an ongoing process which is necessitated by various factors such as availability of venues, schedules of higher authorities, natural factors etc,” officials said.”There have been many occasions when the electoral literacy conferences had been postponed/dates changed earlier also such as HP, Ladakh, Uttarakhand. Moreover, the decision to postpone these two particular conferences was taken on Sep 21,” they added.Gyanesh Kumar was scheduled to attend the voter awareness programmes in Meerut on Friday and Varanasi on September 28.This comes as a political row erupted after an Indian Express report highlighted differences among the commissioners over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The report said election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised formal objections on at least 14 occasions over a 10-month period against decisions and orders related to electoral-roll processes.Meanwhile, the opposition launched protests across the country demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.The Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress held a protest outside the chief electoral officer’s office in Bhopal, demanding Kumar’s resignation. Protesters raised slogans against the CEC and carried posters reading “arrest Gyanesh Kumar for treason” and “Vote-Chori magic trick exposed”.In Dehradun, Congress workers also staged a protest demanding Kumar’s resignation, with Congress MP Kumari Selja leading the demonstration.In Punjab, Pradesh Congress committee president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring demanded Kumar’s dismissal, an FIR against him and his alleged collaborators, and their arrest. He also announced a march to the ECI office in Chandigarh under the leadership of Sachin Pilot.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines“The march will begin at 11 am on September 25 from near the RBI Office, Sector 17, Chandigarh, and proceed towards the ECI office,” he said.CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also vowed to launch a nationwide protest from October 2 if Kumar did not resign by Saturday.In a post on X, Dipke said CJP would begin its protest from Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanti and subsequently take the agitation to cities across India.“If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign by tomorrow, CJP will begin its nationwide protest from Mumbai on 2 October, and take it to cities across India. This Gandhi Jayanti let’s pledge to save democracy,” Dipke wrote.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRohitashwa RanjanRohitashwa Ranjan is a digital journalist with The Times of India, where he decodes Indian politics as a carefully staged production with scripts, subtext and everything behind. His stories track elections, party dynamics and the things that often are buried beneath the headlines. When not parsing vote shares or alliances, he is usually reading between the lines, where the real story tends to reside.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges’Justice Must Be Served’: Ladakh Marks One Year Since Deadly Leh Violence | WatchWhen The Umpires Clash: 10 Questions At The Heart Of The Election Commission-SIR Row123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysMaharashtra School holidayPunjab school holidayTelangana school holidayDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Friday clarified that the cancellation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s youth outreach events in Uttar Pradesh had nothing to do with the ongoing row over alleged internal differences in the poll body but were necessiated due to various logistical factors.“Adjustments in dates of events is an ongoing process which is necessitated by various factors such as availability of venues, schedules of higher authorities, natural factors etc,” officials said.“There have been many occasions when the electoral literacy conferences had been postponed/dates changed earlier also such as HP, Ladakh, Uttarakhand. Moreover, the decision to postpone these two particular conferences was taken on Sep 21,” they added.Gyanesh Kumar was scheduled to attend the voter awareness programmes in Meerut on Friday and Varanasi on September 28.This comes as a political row erupted after an Indian Express report highlighted differences among the commissioners over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The report said election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised formal objections on at least 14 occasions over a 10-month period against decisions and orders related to electoral-roll processes.Meanwhile, the opposition launched protests across the country demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.The Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress held a protest outside the chief electoral officer’s office in Bhopal, demanding Kumar’s resignation. Protesters raised slogans against the CEC and carried posters reading “arrest Gyanesh Kumar for treason” and “Vote-Chori magic trick exposed”.In Dehradun, Congress workers also staged a protest demanding Kumar’s resignation, with Congress MP Kumari Selja leading the demonstration.In Punjab, Pradesh Congress committee president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring demanded Kumar’s dismissal, an FIR against him and his alleged collaborators, and their arrest. He also announced a march to the ECI office in Chandigarh under the leadership of Sachin Pilot.
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“The march will begin at 11 am on September 25 from near the RBI Office, Sector 17, Chandigarh, and proceed towards the ECI office,” he said.CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also vowed to launch a nationwide protest from October 2 if Kumar did not resign by Saturday.In a post on X, Dipke said CJP would begin its protest from Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanti and subsequently take the agitation to cities across India.“If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign by tomorrow, CJP will begin its nationwide protest from Mumbai on 2 October, and take it to cities across India. This Gandhi Jayanti let’s pledge to save democracy,” Dipke wrote.
![Warring questions ED’s election-time action NEW DELHI: Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Friday questioned the Enforcement Directorate’s timing in carrying out searches in the state, alleging that corruption had taken place in several departments under the “chief minister’s nose”.Warring said alleged corruption in Punjab must be investigated, but questioned why central agencies had become active only ahead of elections.”I have never given a clean chit to any central agency, because central agencies tend to become active only around election time. But yes, the fact remains that within Punjab, not just GMADA [Greater Mohali Area Development Authority]—there are many other departments and ministries where scams on a massive scale have occurred,” Warring told reporters.”Those scams must be thoroughly investigated, and this corruption was taking place right under the chief minister’s nose,” he added.Taking a swipe at those allegedly involved in the irregularities, Warring said people in Punjab were aware of what had happened.”Don’t just take my word for it; as an opposition party chief, I am bound to say this, but ask anyone, ask the common people: it wasn’t some foreign invader like Ahmad Shah Abdali who looted Delhi; the looters were specific individuals whose names are now surfacing,” he further said.Warring said the ED action was welcome but questioned why similar action had not been taken earlier.”All this happened under the chief minister’s watch. Yet, questions also arise regarding the ED: Why have you become active only now?” he said.”It is good [that action is being taken], but during the past five years when Punjab was crying out in protest, you knew that the policies of Delhi were formulated here… that the Delhi policies were mirrored here. Why were you silent back then? What were you waiting for?” he asked.”Were you waiting for Punjab to be plundered? For Punjab to be stripped clean? Were you waiting for Rs 10,000 crore to be stashed away before stepping in? Why didn’t you arrive earlier? And why right before elections?” Warring said.The Congress leader also raised the possibility of a “collusion at the top”, but stressed that this was his own assessment.”Often I am fully convinced that there is collusion at the top. It’s staged—like staging protests where you pretend you’re being victimised, and they respond… but beneath the surface, behind closed doors, there’s collusion,” he said.He also sought answers on cases and FIRs registered earlier, questioning whether those investigations had progressed.”And what happened to the major FIRs and cases filed earlier? You made huge claims back then too,” Warring said.”Corruption has taken place. Corruption has occurred across ministries and right under the chief minister’s nose. But my question remains for the ED: Why this delay? Why did you stand by watching Punjab get looted?” he said.Warring also referred to speculation about an alleged understanding involving the Union home minister and differences within the Aam Aadmi Party.”Some people even speculate that the Home Minister… these are speculations, of course. There are internal rifts within AAP as well, infighting among them… perhaps they want to wrap up those speculations too,” he said.”What the hidden secret is will be revealed gradually. I won’t say it outright today. When I say Home Minister, I mean the Union Home Minister of the country. So, where this loop originates, who is in league with whom, and who wants to frame whom—all of this will become clear in the days to come,” he added.The ED on Tuesday carried out search and survey operations at 26 premises across Delhi, Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab as part of a money laundering investigation linked to Tirupati Infraprojects Pvt Ltd.The agency also surveyed the GMADA office and the Punjab government’s Department of Housing and Urban Development.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe ED said its investigation found that the promoters of Tirupati Infraprojects also controlled other entities that bought two prime auction sites in Mohali from GMADA. These entities later received substantial financial relief on dues owed to the authority, according to the agency.The agency has estimated the suspected undue gain to the companies and the resulting loss to the exchequer at more than Rs 100 crore.The searches have since turned into a political flashpoint in Punjab. The ruling AAP has accused the Centre of using central agencies against the state government ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. AAP leaders and workers also held a protest outside the GMADA office in Mohali on Thursday.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAbhishek MishraAbhishek Mishra is a Digital Content Producer at The Times of India, working with the news desk. He writes with a keen eye on foreign policy, defence developments, and the shifting currents of geopolitics-and yes, Indian politics always finds a way onto his radar too.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges’Justice Must Be Served’: Ladakh Marks One Year Since Deadly Leh Violence | WatchWhen The Umpires Clash: 10 Questions At The Heart Of The Election Commission-SIR Row123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysMaharashtra School holidayPunjab school holidayTelangana school holidayDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court](https://vknewstoday.in/wp-content/uploads/1790330663_photo.jpg "Warring questions ED’s election-time action NEW DELHI: Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Friday questioned the Enforcement Directorate’s timing in carrying out searches in the state, alleging that corruption had taken place in several departments under the “chief minister’s nose”.Warring said alleged corruption in Punjab must be investigated, but questioned why central agencies had become active only ahead of elections.”I have never given a clean chit to any central agency, because central agencies tend to become active only around election time. But yes, the fact remains that within Punjab, not just GMADA [Greater Mohali Area Development Authority]—there are many other departments and ministries where scams on a massive scale have occurred,” Warring told reporters.”Those scams must be thoroughly investigated, and this corruption was taking place right under the chief minister’s nose,” he added.Taking a swipe at those allegedly involved in the irregularities, Warring said people in Punjab were aware of what had happened.”Don’t just take my word for it; as an opposition party chief, I am bound to say this, but ask anyone, ask the common people: it wasn’t some foreign invader like Ahmad Shah Abdali who looted Delhi; the looters were specific individuals whose names are now surfacing,” he further said.Warring said the ED action was welcome but questioned why similar action had not been taken earlier.”All this happened under the chief minister’s watch. Yet, questions also arise regarding the ED: Why have you become active only now?” he said.”It is good [that action is being taken], but during the past five years when Punjab was crying out in protest, you knew that the policies of Delhi were formulated here… that the Delhi policies were mirrored here. Why were you silent back then? What were you waiting for?” he asked.”Were you waiting for Punjab to be plundered? For Punjab to be stripped clean? Were you waiting for Rs 10,000 crore to be stashed away before stepping in? Why didn’t you arrive earlier? And why right before elections?” Warring said.The Congress leader also raised the possibility of a “collusion at the top”, but stressed that this was his own assessment.”Often I am fully convinced that there is collusion at the top. It’s staged—like staging protests where you pretend you’re being victimised, and they respond… but beneath the surface, behind closed doors, there’s collusion,” he said.He also sought answers on cases and FIRs registered earlier, questioning whether those investigations had progressed.”And what happened to the major FIRs and cases filed earlier? You made huge claims back then too,” Warring said.”Corruption has taken place. Corruption has occurred across ministries and right under the chief minister’s nose. But my question remains for the ED: Why this delay? Why did you stand by watching Punjab get looted?” he said.Warring also referred to speculation about an alleged understanding involving the Union home minister and differences within the Aam Aadmi Party.”Some people even speculate that the Home Minister… these are speculations, of course. There are internal rifts within AAP as well, infighting among them… perhaps they want to wrap up those speculations too,” he said.”What the hidden secret is will be revealed gradually. I won’t say it outright today. When I say Home Minister, I mean the Union Home Minister of the country. So, where this loop originates, who is in league with whom, and who wants to frame whom—all of this will become clear in the days to come,” he added.The ED on Tuesday carried out search and survey operations at 26 premises across Delhi, Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab as part of a money laundering investigation linked to Tirupati Infraprojects Pvt Ltd.The agency also surveyed the GMADA office and the Punjab government’s Department of Housing and Urban Development.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe ED said its investigation found that the promoters of Tirupati Infraprojects also controlled other entities that bought two prime auction sites in Mohali from GMADA. These entities later received substantial financial relief on dues owed to the authority, according to the agency.The agency has estimated the suspected undue gain to the companies and the resulting loss to the exchequer at more than Rs 100 crore.The searches have since turned into a political flashpoint in Punjab. The ruling AAP has accused the Centre of using central agencies against the state government ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. AAP leaders and workers also held a protest outside the GMADA office in Mohali on Thursday.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAbhishek MishraAbhishek Mishra is a Digital Content Producer at The Times of India, working with the news desk. He writes with a keen eye on foreign policy, defence developments, and the shifting currents of geopolitics-and yes, Indian politics always finds a way onto his radar too.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges’Justice Must Be Served’: Ladakh Marks One Year Since Deadly Leh Violence | WatchWhen The Umpires Clash: 10 Questions At The Heart Of The Election Commission-SIR Row123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysMaharashtra School holidayPunjab school holidayTelangana school holidayDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court")
