Indian opposition groups staged protests for a third consecutive day on Thursday, condemning police actions against Congress party leaders and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstrations are in response to a contentious revision of voter lists, which opposition parties claim is being manipulated to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Opposition parties, their student wings, and the youth movement known as the “Cockroach” have been holding near-daily protests calling for Kumar’s removal. They accuse the BJP and its appointees, including Kumar, of colluding to alter voter lists in the ruling party’s favor. Kumar has not publicly responded to these allegations, while both the Election Commission and the BJP have denied any wrongdoing.
These protests represent a significant political challenge for Modi during his third term, following recent demonstrations by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) that led to the resignation of the education minister over exam paper leaks.
On Thursday, visuals showed dozens of Congress supporters marching in Telangana, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal organized a similar protest in Bihar. In Bengaluru, hundreds from the CJP youth movement gathered, holding signs reading “Every name counts, Every vote matters” and “Stop the Murder of Democracy.” Khushi Shrivastava, a 22-year-old architecture student at the Bengaluru protest, emphasized the importance of voting rights, stating that those who care about India’s future are being denied the ability to vote.
Earlier, on Wednesday, Congress accused police of using excessive force to briefly detain party leader Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Vadra, and other lawmakers as they attempted to reach the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi. Delhi Police rejected these claims, asserting that the allegations were attempts to defame the force. Senior officer Shrishti Pandey assured that police officers ensure all legal duties are followed without unnecessary or illegal actions.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia dismissed the opposition’s accusations as baseless and anarchic, stating at a media briefing that there was no evidence supporting the claims.
