Thousands marched through New Delhi on Sunday, demanding India’s election chief resign over voter roll revisions accused of favoring Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party.
Thousands of protesters marched through New Delhi on Sunday, demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over controversial voter roll revisions that opposition parties say have undermined electoral fairness and strengthened Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Rahul Gandhi of the Indian National Congress led the demonstration, marking the latest escalation in more than a month of protests against the Election Commission’s handling of electoral roll revisions.
At the center of the controversy is the removal of more than 130 million names from voter lists, a measure opposition leaders say has disproportionately affected Muslims and other minority communities, many of whom are less likely to support Modi’s Hindu nationalist BJP.
The opposition has accused the Election Commission of overseeing a politically biased process that threatens the voting rights of millions and raises serious questions about the integrity of India’s electoral system.
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has faced mounting demands to step down as protesters challenge the commission’s impartiality and demand accountability for the mass deletions.
The Election Commission has denied allegations of political favoritism, arguing that voters whose names were wrongly removed can re-register.
However, the BJP has dismissed the opposition’s criticism, accusing its political rivals of undermining democracy by challenging the electoral revision process.
With India’s next general election scheduled for 2029, the growing confrontation highlights deepening political divisions and mounting concerns over the fairness of the country’s electoral institutions.
