Protests Break Out in New Delhi as Opposition Presses Demand for Election Chief's Resignation
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Thousands assembled in New Delhi to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with critics alleging the voter roll changes favor the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
In New Delhi, thousands of protesters rallied to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the latest revisions to voter lists unfairly advantage Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The demonstration, led by Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, is part of a prolonged protest campaign that has continued for more than a month.
Opposition parties claim that the removal of over 130 million names from the voter lists has disproportionately affected Muslims and other minorities, whom they say are less likely to support the BJP. The Election Commission has denied those allegations, stating that voters who were incorrectly removed can re-register.
In response to the protests, the BJP accused opposition groups of undermining democracy by casting doubt on legitimate electoral processes. Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda described the rally as a “carefully orchestrated drama,” saying it amounted to a conspiracy to disrupt national order under the cover of democratic expression.
As demonstrators moved toward the historic Ramlila Maidan, security was tightened, with hundreds of police deployed, some in riot control gear. The protests have intensified since concerns were raised by Kumar’s deputies about the electoral roll revisions, marking a significant political challenge for Modi since he assumed office in 2014.