Tens of thousands gather in Delhi to demand election chief resign
Protesters at Ramlila Maidan criticize the removal of 130 million names from voter rolls, calling for the end of the current revision process.
By Adriana Abebe ·
Tens of thousands of demonstrators filled Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The rally, organized by the INDIA opposition bloc, marked a renewed challenge to the central government just weeks after a police crackdown in the capital.
Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Congress party, joined the crowd alongside supporters of the youth-led Cockroach movement. Many protesters carried musical instruments and waved flags while chanting against central government policies. The alliance, formed in 2023 to unseat Prime Minister Narendra Modi, mobilized cadres from various states for the event.
The protest took place at Ramlila Maidan after police removed Jantar Mantar from the list of official demonstration venues last month. Authorities deployed thousands of police and paramilitary personnel to the site. Officials stated that surveillance included more than 200 CCTV cameras, drones, and body-worn cameras along the route.
The dispute centers on a voter list review that has removed more than 130 million names since last year. Critics argue the exercise is politically motivated and disproportionately affects minorities, particularly Muslims. The Election Commission and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party maintain the revision aims to remove duplicate and ineligible entries.
Elaine Pearson, Asia director for Human Rights Watch, released a statement on Thursday. She said the revision process raises serious questions about the fairness of future elections. Pearson urged authorities to scrap the process, noting it has denied marginalized people their right to vote and access government services.
Suresh Sharma, a protester from Haryana, said the country needs reform as democracy faces pressure. He stated that the voter roll revision must be scrapped. Sharma added that Kumar should resign and be arrested.
In July, the Cockroach movement helped force the resignation of the education minister. The group began as an online campaign after India’s chief justice compared unemployed youth to parasites. Modi has not publicly commented on the Sunday protests, though some BJP leaders called the demonstrators anarchists and suggested foreign backing without providing evidence.
