Thousands of people joined Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi to challenge revisions of voter rolls and demand election chief Gyanesh Kumar’s departure. Opposition parties allege that the changes favour the governing party and disproportionately exclude minorities. The Election Commission denies political bias and says wrongly removed voters can register again.
Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Indian Congress opposition party, joined thousands of demonstrators in New Delhi on Sunday to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The rally challenged Kumar’s management of revisions to the electoral rolls. Protesters moved through the capital toward Ramlila Maidan, carrying Indian and party flags as opposition leaders travelled in an open vehicle.[1], [2]
Opposition parties allege that the revisions favour Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party and disproportionately remove Muslims and other minority voters. They say more than 130 million names have been deleted. The Election Commission denies favouring any party and says voters whose names were wrongly removed can register again. Kumar’s two deputies had previously raised concerns about voter-list revisions, registration procedures and digital systems.[1]
Authorities announced traffic diversions and deployed hundreds of police, some with batons and shields, around the rally route. Vehicles to control crowds were also positioned nearby. Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda dismissed the protest as political theatre, while the governing party accused the opposition of undermining legitimate election procedures. Opposition parties, students and youth activists have demonstrated almost daily since late September. India’s next general election is due in 2029.[1]
