India’s opposition parties staged a large protest in New Delhi on Sunday, renewing calls for the resignation of the country’s election chief, Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration, organized by the opposition bloc INDIA, drew tens of thousands of participants who chanted slogans against the central government and its policies.
The protesters gathered at Ramlila Maidan, a public square in the capital, after authorities recently withdrew Jantar Mantar, a long-standing protest venue, from the list of designated demonstration sites. The protest was led by Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the opposition Congress party, and supported by the youth movement known as “Cockroach.”
During the rally, Gandhi accused the Election Commission and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of manipulating the electoral process, alleging "vote theft." He also claimed that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological parent of the BJP, is increasing its control over state institutions, which he believes hinders the rights of farmers, laborers, and youth.
Authorities deployed thousands of police and paramilitary personnel, along with extensive surveillance equipment, including cameras and drones, to monitor the event and the protest route.
Central to the opposition's grievances is the ongoing revision of voter lists, which has resulted in the removal of over 130 million names since last year. Critics argue that this exercise is politically motivated and could disenfranchise millions, with a disproportionate impact on minority communities, particularly Muslims. The opposition bloc has demanded that the voter roll revision process be halted.
The Election Commission and the Modi administration maintain that the revision is aimed at removing duplicate and ineligible entries to ensure the accuracy of the voter rolls. However, Human Rights Watch has raised concerns, stating that the accusations surrounding the voter roll revision cast doubt on the fairness of future elections in India. The organization called for the immediate scrapping of the revision process.
This is not the first instance of significant public dissent. In July, protests led by the youth "cockroach" movement contributed to the resignation of Modi’s education minister. The movement originated as an online satirical campaign.
Protesters like Suresh Sharma, who traveled from northern Haryana state, expressed a desire for systemic reform, stating that democracy was being stifled and echoing the demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and arrest.