New Delhi: Security arrangements for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar have been further strengthened amid intensifying protests by Opposition parties over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Kumar already enjoys Z-plus security, one of the highest levels of civilian protection in India. Officials said additional personnel have now been deployed outside his residence in New Moti Bagh Colony, at the Election Commission’s headquarters and as part of his personal security arrangements. The reinforcement was ordered on October 7 after a fresh assessment of the security situation.
The move comes against the backdrop of a growing political confrontation between the Election Commission and Opposition parties. The INDIA bloc, led by Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, has been demanding Kumar’s resignation, alleging that the SIR exercise could lead to wrongful deletions from electoral rolls and affect voters’ rights. The Election Commission has rejected allegations of political bias and maintained that its decisions follow the law and established procedures.
Security concerns increased after protesters staged demonstrations near Kumar’s residence in Delhi and outside his family home in Agra. According to officials, the protesters had managed to identify the location of his Delhi residence, prompting authorities to reassess the threat perception. Additional police pickets were subsequently placed near the residence, while security checks in New Moti Bagh Colony were tightened.
The Election Commission headquarters has also seen heightened security. Additional central forces have been deployed around key government installations in Delhi as authorities prepare for continued demonstrations. The Ministry of Home Affairs has made 221 companies of Central Armed Police Forces, involving around 23,000 personnel, available to Delhi Police between October 8 and 12 to assist with maintaining law and order and securing sensitive areas.
The security escalation follows several days of protests in the national capital. On October 7, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Opposition MPs were detained during a demonstration demanding Kumar’s resignation. The previous day, Opposition leaders had also staged a protest march towards the Election Commission headquarters.
With Opposition parties vowing to continue their campaign and further demonstrations expected in the coming days, security agencies are maintaining heightened vigilance around the CEC, the Election Commission headquarters and other sensitive locations in Delhi.
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