LUCKNOW, Oct. 8 -- Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress workers staged demonstrations across Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, demanding the resignation of chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the electoral process and voter rolls. The protests were part of the SP's "Loktantra Bachao Saptah" (Save Democracy Week) and "Vote Bachao-Desh Bachao" (Save Your Vote, Save the Country) campaigns, while the Congress observed the day as "Black Day" over alleged misbehaviour with its senior leaders during a protest in New Delhi a day earlier.

In Lucknow, SP workers led by metropolitan president Fakir Siddiqui marched from the party office in Qaiserbagh to the collectorate, raising slogans including "Vote chor, gaddi c...