The Tripura Pradesh Congress Seva Dal on Thursday organised a mass sit‑in demonstration in Agartala, demanding the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protest was held against alleged electoral malpractice, suppression of democratic rights, and weakening of constitutional institutions.

The programme saw the participation of senior Congress leaders including State Congress president Asish Kumar Saha, MLAs Sudip Roy Barman and Gopal Chandra Roy, along with party workers and supporters.

Addressing the gathering, State Congress president Asish Kumar Saha accused the ruling party of systematically eroding the democratic environment in Tripura since 2018. He alleged that voters were intimidated, prevented from reaching polling stations, and subjected to violence before and after elections.

Saha claimed that ruling party cadres and hired muscle disrupted polling, prevented genuine voters from exercising their franchise, and manipulated results through booth capturing and fraudulent voting. He argued that elections ranging from panchayat and ADC polls to Lok Sabha elections have failed to reflect the true public mandate.

The Congress also strongly criticised Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha for defending the role of the Chief Election Commissioner. Asish Kumar Saha alleged that instead of ensuring impartiality, the Chief Minister attempted to shield the Election Commission while blaming opposition parties.

The Congress leaders further alleged irregularities in the voter list, claiming that legitimate voters’ names were being excluded while ineligible names were added. They demanded an independent investigation into these allegations, pointing out that similar complaints have surfaced in other states.

The party raised concerns about the legal immunity enjoyed by election officials, arguing that constitutional institutions must remain transparent and accountable. “If irregularities or misuse of power occur, there must be legal provisions to act against those responsible,” Congress leaders said, stressing the need for reforms to restore public trust.

Beyond electoral concerns, Congress leaders also highlighted Tripura’s law and order challenges, unemployment crisis, salary disputes of government employees, and corruption across departments. They alleged that educated unemployed youth face police action when protesting for their rights, while opposition programmes are obstructed by administrative measures.

The sit‑in demonstration marks a significant escalation in the Congress’s campaign against the Election Commission in Tripura. Party leaders vowed to continue their agitation until accountability is ensured, framing the protest as part of a larger struggle to protect democratic institutions and restore faith in the electoral process.