Congress holds Vote Bachao march in Chandrapur, demands Chief Election Commissioner's resignation

The Congress took out a "Vote Bachao Morcha" in Chandrapur on Thursday. The march began at Gandhi Chowk and went to the District Collector's office. It was organised on the directions of the All India Congress Committee and was led by MP Pratibha Dhanorkar, who demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign.

The agitation was held under the party's "Loktantra Bachao Saptah" (Save Democracy Week), during which a people's campaign named "Vote Bachao - Desh Bachao" is being run. The Congress held the march on foot from Chandrapur's historic Gandhi Chowk to the Collector's office. Along with Dhanorkar, district Congress president and former MLA Subhashbhau Dhote and city district Congress president Shiva Rao Polshetti also led the march. Key district office-bearers and workers were present in large numbers.

Addressing a public meeting in front of the Collector's office, Dhanorkar said: "'Vote Bachao - Desh Bachao' is not just a slogan, but it is the fight all of us have taken up to protect democracy in the present circumstances. Democracy is not limited to elections. It is a system tied to citizens' rights and constitutional values. It is everyone's responsibility that voters' rights remain secure, the election process be transparent and the democratic values given by the Constitution be protected. For the autonomy and impartiality of the Election Commission to remain intact, it is extremely necessary that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign from his post. The Congress party will keep raising its voice for this."

Dhote said that for the protection of democracy and the Constitution, their leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, the Congress party and the INDIA bloc were continuously raising people's issues. He also said citizens too must stay aware of their rights.

After the public meeting, a delegation led by Dhanorkar met the District Collector. It submitted a memorandum addressed to President Droupadi Murmu listing several key demands, including the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation.

MLA Abhijeet Wanjari, former district presidents Vinayak Bangde, Subhashsingh Gaur, Vinod Dattatraya and Santosh Lahamge, Gadchiroli Congress district president Mahendra Brahmanwade, Youth Congress district president Shantanu Dhote, city district president Rajesh Adur, Mahila Congress district president Kundatai Jenekar and Mahila Congress city president Chandatai Vairagade were present. Pramod Borikar, Deepak Wadhai, Umakant Dhande, Sapna More, Pawan Bhagat, Sunita Govardhan, Nagaradhyaksha Arun Dhote, former mayor Sangeeta Amritkar, party floor leader Surendra Adbale, Nagaradhyaksha Dipti Sontakke, Raju Reddy, Dinesh Chokhare, taluka president Vijay Gawande, Pramod Chaudhari, Anil Narule, Ranjan Lande, Govinda Upre, city president Abdul Karim Sheikh, Nirmala Kudmethe and Youth Congress members Saurabh Tipale, Naresh Gulapalli, Mangesh Bawane, Abhijeet Gongle and Ashish Bonde also took part. Congress office-bearers, workers and citizens attended in large numbers.