INDIA Bloc Protests in Hyderabad, Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation

The INDIA bloc parties staged a ‘Chalo Lok Bhavan’ protest in Hyderabad on Thursday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Congress, Left parties, Telangana Jana Samithi and Samajwadi Party workers arrived from Hyderabad and various districts to participate in the demonstration. The protesters marched from the Indira Gandhi statue at Necklace Rotary through Khairatabad towards Lok Bhavan, raising slogans against the CEC and the central government. Telangana ministers Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Ponnam Prabhakar, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy and several other public representatives and party leaders joined the rally. Police erected barricades at three locations to prevent the protesters from entering Lok Bhavan, leading to brief tension as demonstrators attempted to cross them.

PCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud sought permission to submit a memorandum to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, but senior police officials denied access, citing security concerns. Police subsequently detained ministers, legislators, MLCs and party workers and shifted them to different police stations. At Panjagutta police station, the leaders vowed to continue their agitation until Gyanesh Kumar resigned. They were later released on personal bonds. Traffic restrictions on routes towards Lok Bhavan from Jubilee Hills and Banjara Hills caused congestion in Abids, Basheerbagh, Lakdikapul, Khairatabad and Panjagutta. Congress leaders said their campaign to protect democracy and raise allegations of vote theft would continue under the slogan ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ (Save the Vote, Save the Nation).