Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi was detained on Friday, September 25, 2026, during a party protest in Guwahati demanding the resignation and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest was part of a nationwide Congress campaign against the Election Commission of India (ECI). Congress has raised concerns about how the poll panel as well as the handling of electoral roll revisions in Kumar's time. These are political allegations made by the party and have not been proven as facts.
Reports said Gogoi was detained along with other Congress leaders and workers during the demonstration in Guwahati. Pratidin Time reported that those detained were taken towards the 10th Assam Police Battalion camp in Kahilipara.
Gogoi Demands CEC's Resignation
At the protest, Gogoi called for Kumar to resign immediately. He also asked for legal action against the CEC, repeating Congress’s allegations on electoral roll management.
Gogoi said the Election Commission has a duty to protect the country’s electoral rolls and the voting rights of citizens. His comments came as Congress stepped up its protests across several states.
The Congress also wants an independent review of decisions and changes to electoral rolls made during Kumar’s tenure.
Why is Congress protesting?
The protests follow a report by The Indian Express of objections raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over several decisions and orders of the poll panel.
According to reports, the objections involved changes to Form 6, additions and deletions from electoral rolls, access to voter databases and aspects of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The report said the two commissioners had formally raised objections on at least 14 occasions over a period of about 10 months.
The Election Commission disputes that these differences represent an institutional breakdown. The poll panel has said that different views and observations are part and parcel of the normal functioning of a multi-member constitutional body. It has also maintained that its decisions and orders follow established legal procedures.
🚨 APCC PRESIDENT GAURAV GOGOI DETAINED
— Assam Congress (@INCAssam) September 25, 2026
APCC President Shri @GauravGogoiAsm ji has been detained while protesting and demanding accountability from CEC Gyanesh Kumar over his role in “vote chori”, along with his removal from office and an independent review of electoral-roll… pic.twitter.com/Wq40DUukrw
Protests Across Several States
The Assam demonstration was part of Congress’s wider September 25 protest programme.
Congress had instructed its state units to organise marches to election offices, demanding Kumar's removal and an independent review of electoral roll decisions. Protests were also reported in Delhi, Kolkata and Imphal on Friday.
In Manipur, Congress workers protested outside the Chief Electoral Officer's office in Imphal. Police used tear gas shells to disperse protesters when emotions took hold in the demonstration.
In Kolkata, Congress workers marched towards the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer’s office, while security was increased in Delhi and other locations.
What happens next?
Congress has said its protests will continue. The party has announced another phase of demonstrations by District Congress Committees on September 28.
The political dispute is over the functioning of the Election Commission, electoral roll changes and the allegations of the Opposition. The ECI’s response and the outcome of the ongoing political and legal exchanges will drive the next steps.
