Indian opposition parties demand the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation over voter roll controversies, as Delhi police register multiple cases and detain demonstrators.
NEW DELHI — Opposition parties in India have intensified protests over ongoing revisions to electoral voter lists, prompting authorities in New Delhi to register 25 police cases and temporarily detain several high-profile political figures.
The demonstrations, driven by the opposition INDIA alliance, center on demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, transparent investigations into alleged irregularities within voter rolls, and the protection of eligible citizens’ voting rights.
### Protests and Police Action in New Delhi
Tensions escalated when opposition parliamentarians marched from the parliament building toward the Election Commission office. Police blocked the procession, leading to demonstrations near Akashvani Bhavan involving prominent leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Police subsequently detained several participants before releasing them.
Subsequent gatherings took place at Raj Ghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, where leaders reiterated their demands.
According to reports from *Hindustan Times* and *The Indian Express*, Delhi Police registered 25 First Information Reports (FIRs) in connection with protests held since October 2. The police cases allege offenses including damage to public property, clashes with law enforcement personnel, obstruction of official duties, and violation of public assembly restrictions. The names of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra appear in connection with some of these filings. Legal proceedings and individual defenses remain ongoing, and the filing of police complaints does not constitute a judicial finding of guilt.
### Separate Demonstrations and Mass Detentions
A separate protest campaign called by the youth movement Cockroach Janta Party led to further detentions on October 10. According to Reuters, more than 2,000 individuals were detained during demonstrations demanding the election chief’s resignation.
While the INDIA alliance and the Cockroach Janta Party share similar criticisms regarding election administration, reports from *The Times of India* noted that Congress did not formally participate in the October 10 demonstration, though other opposition factions, including leftist groups and the Aam Aadmi Party, expressed support.
### Core Demands and Official Stance
Opposition groups argue that large-scale deletions from voter lists threaten to disenfranchise eligible citizens and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
Election authorities and the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have rejected these allegations, maintaining that routine list revisions aim to correct inaccuracies and eliminate duplicate entries. The Election Commission stated that citizens whose names were omitted erroneously may submit applications for re-enrollment.
Political tensions remain high as opposition parties continue their campaign, and no official announcements regarding concessions or leadership changes have been confirmed by election authorities.