The Madhepura District Congress Committee organised a padyatra in Madhepura, Bihar, on 2 October 2025 — Mahatma Gandhi's 157th birth anniversary and the International Day of Non-Violence — calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Party workers and leaders took a collective pledge to uphold the Constitution, democracy, and Gandhian principles during the march.

The March and Its Demands

The procession was led by Mrinal Yadav, Bihar Pradesh Congress Vice-President and the party's in-charge for Madhepura district. A large number of Congress workers participated, and the march culminated at the Zila Parishad grounds.

Speaking to reporters at the event, Yadav demanded Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, framing the agitation as the opening act of a broader statewide movement. He asserted that the message from Madhepura would spread to other parts of Bihar in the coming days and that Congress workers would sustain the protest until Kumar stepped down.

'Today, there is an urgent need to protect democracy and the Constitution in the country,' Yadav said, adding that Congress workers had taken a collective pledge to safeguard the democratic system.

National Context: Delhi Protest Blocked, Security Tightened

The Madhepura padyatra came amid heightened tension in New Delhi, where Delhi Police denied permission for a planned 2 October gathering at Jantar Mantar, citing security and law-and-order concerns. Authorities imposed prohibitory restrictions across the New Delhi district and deployed additional security personnel in and around the area.

Entry and exit points at multiple Delhi Metro stations — reports indicate as many as 11 stations — were shut as a precautionary measure, drawing criticism from opposition figures. The proposed protest had been backed by opposition parties, student organisations, and civil society groups concerned about the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Pappu Yadav Raises Electoral Integrity Concerns

Purnea MP Rajesh Ranjan, commonly known as Pappu Yadav, who was in Darbhanga at the time, criticised the security clampdown in Delhi. He questioned the restrictions on public movement and raised concerns over the safety and freedom of movement of ordinary citizens — particularly women — in the capital on Gandhi Jayanti.

Pappu Yadav also referred to 'vote theft' allegations raised by Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders. He called for an investigation into allegations concerning electoral rolls, Form 6, and the role of software and technology companies in the electoral process. He demanded strict legal action against those found responsible, including — in his remarks — capital punishment after due trial under charges of sedition.

Election Commission's Position

The Election Commission of India has maintained that differences of opinion can arise during institutional deliberations and that final decisions are taken through the prescribed process. The allegations concerning electoral-roll manipulation remain subjects of active political debate, and no independent verification of the specific claims has been established.

What to Watch

The Gandhi Jayanti protests have brought the debate over electoral rolls, voting rights, and the functioning of constitutional institutions back into sharp public focus. With Congress signalling a wider Bihar-level agitation and opposition pressure on CEC Gyanesh Kumar intensifying nationally, the coming days are likely to see escalating political activity around Election Commission accountability.