Thousands March in Delhi As Opposition Challenges Voter Deletions

Thousands of protesters marched through New Delhi on Sunday demanding the resignation of India’s election chief, as opposition parties intensified their campaign against voter list changes they allege benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led the demonstration toward Ramlila Maidan, where crowds gathered amid a heavy security presence.

The rally extended more than a month of protests over the removal of names from electoral rolls nationwide.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has become the campaign's central target.

Opposition parties accuse the Election Commission of overseeing deletions that disproportionately affect Muslims and other minorities considered unlikely to vote for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.

The commission rejects allegations of political favoritism. The BJP also denies wrongdoing and accuses its opponents of discrediting legitimate election procedures.

Disputed Deletions

More than 130 million names have been removed during the overhaul, according to figures reported by Indian media and cited by opposition parties in court filings.

Election authorities say the exercise is designed to remove entries belonging to people who have died, moved away, or registered more than once, as well as fraudulent registrations.

Eligible voters whose names were wrongly deleted can apply to re-enroll, the commission says.

Demonstrators said they discovered their families had disappeared from the lists despite still living at their registered addresses.

Reena Mahto, a member of Congress’ student wing, told Reuters that four relatives had been marked as having moved away from their home in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, although the family still lived there.

“There should be accountability, and we are here to seek that.”

Nandita, a 46-year-old protester who gave AFP only one name, said she had voted since turning 18 but had now been removed from the roll.

“The only option is to take to the streets peacefully.”

Human Rights Watch has called for the revision to be scrapped, saying it has deprived marginalized people of voting rights and access to other government services.

Pressure on the Commission

The campaign gathered force after The Indian Express reported in September that Kumar’s two deputies had privately raised concerns about voter list revisions, registration procedures and digital systems.

Opposition parties, student groups and the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party have since organized near-daily demonstrations seeking his departure.

Police temporarily detained several leaders of the youth movement during protests last month.

On Sunday, security personnel equipped with batons and shields were deployed around Ramlila Maidan alongside riot-control vehicles.

Authorities also announced possible traffic diversions along the march route.

Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda dismissed the demonstration in comments to news agency ANI.

“It is a calculated conspiracy to plunge the nation into anarchy, all in the name of democracy,” he said.

Despite the sustained protests, Modi’s government remains stable. India’s next general election is due in 2029.