Thousands rally in New Delhi demanding India's election chief resign
Opposition-led protest at Ramlila Maidan demands Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign over voter-list revision that removed over 130 million names.
The story in focus
Thousands rallied in New Delhi on Sunday demanding the resignation of India's election chief over voter-list revisions. The opposition Congress party led the protest at Ramlila Maidan, with heavy police deployment. The Election Commission denies favoring any party and says wrongly removed voters can re-register.
- Thousands protested in New Delhi demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign
- Opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi led the Sunday demonstration
- More than 130 million names were removed from voter lists, opposition says disproportionately affecting minorities
- Election Commission denies favoring any party; voters wrongly removed may register again
- Next general election is due in 2029
Protest at Ramlila Maidan
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in central New Delhi on Sunday, marching toward the historic Ramlila Maidan ground to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led the rally, which the BBC reported was organized by the opposition INDIA bloc and drew prominent alliance leaders.
Hundreds of police, some carrying batons and shields, were deployed around the site alongside riot-control vehicles ahead of the march. Officials announced traffic diversions, and Delhi Police imposed conditions including a 5pm end time and a ban on marching beyond the designated grounds.
Voter-list dispute
The protest is the latest in more than a month of demonstrations against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Opposition parties allege the exercise, which removed over 130 million names from draft voter lists, disproportionately affected Muslims and other minorities unlikely to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.
The Election Commission has denied favoring any party and said the revision aims to remove duplicate registrations and names of people who died, moved away or are otherwise ineligible. It says voters wrongly excluded may register again. The BJP accused the opposition of undermining democracy by challenging legitimate electoral procedures.
Political reaction
Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda dismissed the demonstration as a carefully orchestrated drama and accused organizers of seeking to create unrest. The rally followed a symbolic opposition impeachment of Kumar on Saturday, a move with no legal standing, according to the BBC. India's next general election is due in 2029.
What is the voter-list revision at the center of the Delhi protest?
The Special Intensive Revision removed over 130 million names from draft electoral rolls. The Election Commission says it targets duplicate or ineligible registrations; opposition parties allege it removes legitimate voters and could benefit the ruling BJP.
Sources & further reading
- Thousands rally in New Delhi to demand India’s election chief resign ↗Al Jazeera
- India's opposition holds mega rally seeking election chief's resignation ↗BBC News
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