Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi and several senior party leaders were detained by police on Friday, 25 September 2026, after they attempted to breach barricades during a demonstration in Guwahati demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The detention came as the Congress escalated its statewide campaign against the Election Commission of India (ECI), citing concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and alleged irregularities in voter data and new voter registration.

How the Protest Unfolded

Demonstrators gathered at the party's Assam headquarters, Rajiv Bhawan, before setting out in a procession towards the office of the Chief Electoral Officer. Police had pre-emptively deployed barricades near the Congress headquarters to prevent the march from advancing. Tension briefly escalated when Gogoi and other senior leaders attempted to cross the police cordon, following which authorities detained the group.

Protesters had also planned to burn an effigy of CEC Gyanesh Kumar as part of the demonstration, signalling the intensity of the party's opposition to the poll body's current leadership.

Why Congress Is Targeting the Election Commission

The protest was triggered by a recent investigative media report that shed light on internal dissent within the Election Commission of India over the SIR — a drive to revise and clean up electoral rolls. Congress leaders have alleged that the process lacks transparency and could affect legitimate voter registrations, raising concerns about the fairness of upcoming elections.

The party has consistently demanded greater accountability from the poll panel and has called for Kumar's removal from the post of Chief Election Commissioner. The Election Commission has maintained, in its responses, that all its actions are governed by established legal and constitutional procedures. There was no immediate official statement from the Commission on the specific allegations raised during Friday's protest.

Broader Political Context in Assam

Friday's demonstration is part of the Indian National Congress's wider national campaign against the poll panel, being replicated across states. In Assam specifically, the protest also comes amid heightened political activity, with parties intensifying their organisational drives ahead of an upcoming Lok Sabha bypoll in the state.

Notably, the detention of a sitting Member of Parliament and state party president during a political demonstration is likely to sharpen the Congress's rhetoric against both the state administration and the ECI in the days ahead.

What Happens Next

The Congress is expected to continue its protests through political programmes and public demonstrations, pressing for greater scrutiny of the election machinery. The party's escalating posture suggests the issue will remain a flashpoint in Assam's political landscape, with more such demonstrations likely as the bypoll approaches.