Thousands of young protesters, alongside opposition parties, took to the streets in Delhi and Mumbai on Sunday, intensifying demands for the resignation of Election Commission Chief Gyanesh Kumar. Police detained demonstrators for the third consecutive day amid escalating tensions.
In Mumbai, opposition leaders Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray spearheaded protests, calling for the reversal of recent electoral roll revisions and Kumar’s removal. Meanwhile, in Delhi, crowds began assembling early in the evening, with police detaining several protesters as they attempted to gather.
Authorities have not disclosed the exact number or identities of those detained during the three days of protests. Over the past two days, Delhi Police have actively prevented mass gatherings, detaining dozens and transporting them by bus. While many detainees were later released, some face legal action for allegedly violating bans on large assemblies in the capital.
The protesters argue that a nationwide revision of voter rolls, initiated last year, has disenfranchised millions of eligible voters by removing their names. They claim these changes unfairly benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), allegations denied by both the Election Commission and the BJP.
Raj Thackeray expressed frustration, stating, “We are angry about how power is being wielded. It is the people who should decide who governs, not the Election Commission.” Notably, a female demonstrator was seen raising her fist as police detained her during protests against alleged assaults on female protesters and journalists by Delhi Police.
In a significant development, opposition parties have announced plans to escalate protests, including a march to the Election Commission office on Monday aimed at “saving democracy.” Additionally, the Gen Z Cockroach Janta Party has scheduled a major rally in Delhi for October 10.
These demonstrations mark the latest youth-led challenge to Modi’s government, unprecedented during his 12 years in power. Earlier in July, student protests led to the resignation of the federal education minister after a national medical college entrance exam paper leak, representing the most severe political crisis of Modi’s current term.
Rim Jhim Sharma, a Delhi resident participating in the protests, stated before her detention that many in her community have lost their voting rights. “We are here to protest because it is our right. We will reclaim our India from Modi,” she declared.
Gyanesh Kumar has yet to respond to calls for his resignation or comment on the ongoing protests. The Election Commission maintains that the voter roll revision aims to eliminate duplicate, deceased, or ineligible entries to preserve electoral integrity. On Friday, the commission instructed officials to re-register eligible voters who were mistakenly omitted from the rolls.
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