India’s opposition parties staged a major protest in New Delhi on Sunday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a controversial revision of voter lists, amid allegations that the exercise could favour the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Security personnel armed with batons and shields, alongside riot-control vehicles, were deployed around the planned protest venue ahead of the demonstration led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
The opposition said it expected hundreds of thousands of people to participate in the march and rally, which it described as a major challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP-led government.
The protest was organised amid near-daily demonstrations by opposition parties, student organisations and the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party since last month. The groups have called for Kumar’s resignation over the voter registration exercise, which critics say could benefit the ruling party.
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The Election Commission has denied favouring any political party, saying voters whose names were wrongly removed could re-enrol. The BJP, meanwhile, has accused opposition parties of undermining democracy by questioning legitimate electoral processes.
The opposition announced plans for a march of about 1.5 kilometres from central Delhi to Ramlila Maidan, the designated venue for the rally.
Footage from news agency ANI showed dozens of security personnel and riot-control vehicles stationed outside the venue, while public announcements urged participants to cooperate with the police and avoid disrupting traffic.
The Delhi Traffic Police said a large gathering was expected and that traffic restrictions and diversions would be introduced as necessary.
Senior police officer Rohit Rajbir told ANI that arrangements had been made at the rally venue and along the march route.
The demonstrations followed a September report by The Indian Express that two deputies of the chief election commissioner had raised concerns internally about voter list revisions, registration procedures and digital systems.
The revision, which began last year, resulted in the removal of more than 130 million names from voter lists. The figure included 28 million people reported to have died, 63 million who had relocated and 30 million who could not be traced.
Opposition parties allege that the deletions disproportionately affect Muslim voters and other minority groups, who are considered less likely to support the BJP. The Election Commission and the ruling party have rejected the allegations.
