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Young protesters in Indore are holding a sit-in protest demanding that Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar step down. The protest, called Gen Z Protest 2.0, is about concerns over the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists and how the Election Commission has handled it.

Demonstrators have set up at Tantya Bheel Square in Indore. They say they won't leave until their demand is met. This isn't a one-day event.

Participants claim there are problems in the voter-list revisions. They worry names are being deleted. These are still just allegations, not confirmed findings. The Election Commission's official position on these claims hasn't changed.

The protest has started a wider political debate across India. Opposition parties are raising hard questions about clarity in the revision process. Similar protests have been reported from other parts of the country too, showing how sensitive this issue has become for voters everywhere.

Congress workers in Madhya Pradesh held Black Day protests across the state on Wednesday. These protests took place at block and district levels. It was part of a nationwide call by the party leadership.

State Party Leader Speaks

State President Jitu Patwari said the party is fighting to protect people's voting rights. He alleges that the votes of 13 crore people have been stolen. Patwari demanded the resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He also stated that democracy cannot survive without an impartial Election Commission.

Protests turned tense in Bhopal, where some workers climbed the Ambedkar statue. In Indore, an effigy of Gyanesh Kumar was burnt. Similar demonstrations were held in Sagar and other districts.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav criticized the Congress party. He questioned their distrust in the election process. Yadav asked what the meaning of their victory in Kerala was if the system is flawed.

BJP Rajya Sabha member Rajneesh Agrawal hit back at opposition leaders who are questioning Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He said the attacks are just a cover for their own election losses.

Talking to reporters in Indore on Friday, Agrawal said it is not right to blame the Commission or other constitutional bodies without facts and logic. He claimed the people criticising EC are the ones who lost a string of elections. The idea is simple, he added, shift attention away and save face before the public.

He refused to comment on the protest held in Mumbai demanding Kumar's resignation. He called the opposition's narrative against the ruling BJP one based on lies.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh separately argued that the non-SIR Form 6 route offered to voters is misleading. The Special Summary Revision has been frozen since 2024, so no non-SIR voter roll is being published where a voter can get added through that form.

Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya is facing criticism after making a comment about a female councillor's weight. During a public event for infrastructure in Indore, the minister told councillor Sandhya Yadav she had gained weight when she walked up to the microphone.

Public reaction to the incident

A video of the moment spread online. Opposition leaders, such as AICC media coordinator Neelabh Shukla, spoke out against the remark. They say the comment shows a lack of respect for women in public roles, which goes against the ruling party's stated support for women's dignity.

Senior Congress leader Pramod Tiwari criticized BJP, calling it a dying lamp. He says the party uses threats and arrests because it fears losing elections.

Tiwari pointed to the arrest of a Congress candidate in West Bengal, calling it a political grudge. He also raised concerns about the voter list process in Delhi. He mentioned that former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his family were removed from the lists as proof of meddling.

Political tensions and recent events

Also, the Congress MP rejected claims made by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi about Rahul Gandhi. These claims were about a recent speech in Indore. Tiwari stated the claims were not based on facts. He believes that more support from young people at recent events shows the political climate is changing.

Voters in Indore should get ready for upcoming by-elections in Municipal Corporation Wards 58 and 60. Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission set the voting date for September 29. Results will be out on October 3.

The process starts September 8 with the official notification and the start of nomination filing. Candidates have until September 15 to submit their papers. After a checking process on September 16, candidates can withdraw their names by September 18.

Reason for by-elections

These bypolls follow the disqualification of previous corporators. Ward 58, previously held by Anwar Qadari, and Ward 60, represented by Sunehra Asif Ansari, became vacant after legal rulings. Residents should stay updated as election dates get closer.