Bihar Congress Protest Against Election Commissioner Ends in Water‑Cannon Showdown

PATNA — A march organized by the Bihar Congress against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was halted by police using water cannons on Friday, 25 September, in a scene that echoed similar clashes in Punjab and New Delhi. The protest was part of a broader campaign by the Congress party across India to challenge the Election Commission’s decisions and policies.

Massive turnout in Patna’s civic centre

Hundreds of Congress supporters, including members of the Youth Congress and the All India Students’ Association, gathered at the civic centre in Patna to demand that the Election Commission address alleged irregularities in the conduct of elections. The rally began peacefully, with participants chanting slogans and holding placards that read “Justice for voters” and “Reform the Election Commission.”

Police intervene with water cannons

When the marchers attempted to move toward the office of the Election Commission, which is located in the city’s administrative complex, police officers from the Patna Police Department deployed water cannons to disperse the crowd. The use of the water cannons was reported by the local press and confirmed by a statement from the Patna Police Commissioner, who said the force was used to maintain public order and prevent a potential clash with the police.

Parallel protests in Punjab and New Delhi

The same day, Congress activists in Punjab and at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi staged parallel demonstrations. In Punjab, a group of youth activists marched in front of the state Election Commission office before police used water cannons to halt the procession. In New Delhi, a smaller contingent of Congress members and student leaders gathered at Jantar Mantar to protest against the Election Commission’s policies, but the protest was also interrupted by police using water cannons.

Context of the nationwide protest

The protests are part of a larger movement that began earlier in September, when the Congress party announced a nationwide “SIR” (State‑wise Integrated Rally) against the Election Commission. The party has criticised the CEC’s handling of the 2024 general elections and has called for reforms in the electoral process. The protests have been organised by the state units of the Congress party, with the Youth Congress and the All India Students’ Association playing a prominent role.

Official responses

In a statement released by the Election Commission, the office said it was unaware of any formal complaint from the Bihar Congress regarding the protest and that it had no record of any violation of the law by the protestors. The CEC’s office also reiterated that it would continue to conduct elections in a free and fair manner.

The Bihar Congress spokesperson, who declined to be named, said the protest was a peaceful expression of the party’s concerns about the Election Commission’s policies. The spokesperson added that the use of water cannons was a “mistake” and that the police had acted in a “necessary manner” to maintain public order.

Legal and procedural aspects

According to the police, the use of water cannons was carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Police Act, 1861, and the rules governing crowd control. The police also stated that they had issued a warning to the protestors before deploying the water cannons, but the protestors continued to move toward the Election Commission’s office, prompting the police to take action.

Impact on the protest movement

The incident in Patna, along with similar events in Punjab and New Delhi, has drawn attention to the growing tensions between the Congress party and the Election Commission. The protests are expected to continue in other cities, as the Congress party has announced plans to hold further demonstrations in the coming weeks.