India’s opposition parties have renewed calls for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign, staging fresh protests in New Delhi today over a contentious voter roll revision that they allege favours Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The demonstration, organised by the opposition INDIA bloc, drew thousands of protesters to Ramlila Maidan, a sprawling public square in the capital. Demonstrators waved flags and chanted slogans against the government, demanding safeguards for India’s democracy and accountability over changes to electoral rolls.
Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition Congress party, led the rally alongside members and supporters of several opposition parties. The demonstration also received backing from youth-led groups, including the Cockroach movement, as opposition leaders intensified their campaign against Kumar.
The protest marked another development in a series of demonstrations that began in late September, reflecting mounting opposition to the voter registration exercise and the Election Commission’s handling of the process.
Opposition parties have criticised the revision, which they say removed more than 130 million names from voter lists and disproportionately affected Muslims and other minority communities considered unlikely to support the BJP.
They argue that the exercise raises concerns about electoral fairness and could undermine eligible citizens’ ability to participate in future elections.
The Election Commission has denied allegations of political bias, maintaining that the revision is intended to remove duplicate and ineligible entries. It has also said voters whose names were wrongly deleted can register again.
Modi’s administration has similarly rejected the opposition’s accusations, defending the exercise as part of efforts to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls. The BJP, in turn, has accused opposition parties of undermining democratic institutions by challenging legitimate electoral procedures.
The dispute has intensified scrutiny of the Election Commission, particularly following concerns reportedly raised by two of Kumar’s deputies about voter list revisions, registration procedures and digital systems.
Human Rights Watch added to the criticism on Thursday, saying that the allegations surrounding the revision raised “serious questions about the fairness of future Indian elections.”
Elaine Pearson, the organisation’s Asia Director, called on authorities to halt the process. “The authorities should immediately scrap the voter roll revision process that has denied India’s most marginalized people their right to vote and other government services,” Pearson said in a statement.
The concerns have added to the political pressure surrounding the exercise, although the allegations of partisan manipulation remain disputed.
Security Tightened Around Rally
Authorities increased security ahead of today’s demonstration, announcing traffic diversions and deploying police and paramilitary personnel around the rally site and along the protest route.
Officers equipped with batons and shields were stationed near Ramlila Maidan, while riot-control vehicles were positioned in the area. Officials also reported extensive surveillance measures, including more than 200 closed-circuit television cameras, drones and body-worn cameras.
The rally took place at Ramlila Maidan after authorities removed Jantar Mantar, a historic observatory that had long served as a prominent protest venue in New Delhi, from the list of officially designated demonstration sites last month.
The change came weeks after police cracked down on protesters in the capital, adding to tensions between demonstrators and authorities.
Health Minister Dismisses Protest
India’s Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda dismissed Sunday’s demonstration as a politically motivated effort to destabilise the country.
“What is unfolding today at Ramlila Maidan is not an act of respect for democracy. It is a calculated conspiracy to plunge the nation into anarchy, all in the name of democracy.”
Jagat Prakash
His remarks reflected the sharp divide between the government and opposition over the protests and the broader dispute surrounding the electoral process.
The INDIA bloc, an alliance formed in 2023 with the stated aim of challenging Modi and the BJP electorally, has mobilised supporters from several states for the demonstrations.
Opposition parties and student organisations have continued to press for Kumar’s resignation, arguing that the Election Commission must address concerns about the voter roll revision before the next general election, scheduled for 2029.
Analysts have described the demonstrations and the growing support for the opposition as a significant political challenge for Modi, who took office in 2014.
However, the government and the Election Commission continue to reject claims that the revision is designed to benefit the BJP, leaving the dispute centred on competing accounts of the process and its implications for eligible voters.
With protests continuing and questions raised by opposition parties and rights groups, the controversy over voter registration is likely to remain a point of political contention as India approaches its next general election.
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