Protests Across India Demand Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner

New Delhi, October 2, 2026:

Protests were held in several Indian cities on Friday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls and the exclusion of large numbers of voters from the lists.

The demonstrations, held on Gandhi Jayanti, Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, brought together opposition political parties, student organisations and civil society groups in cities including New Delhi and Mumbai. Protesters accused the Election Commission of mishandling the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged that eligible voters had been removed from the lists.

The Election Commission has rejected allegations of political manipulation and maintained that the revision process is being conducted under established procedures. It has also said that eligible voters who were inadvertently left out can seek inclusion through the prescribed process.

Protests in New Delhi

In the capital, protesters attempted to gather at Jantar Mantar despite police restrictions and heavy security arrangements.

Police erected barricades around the area and detained hundreds of protesters, including opposition leaders and members of student organisations. The Indian Express reported that about 500 people had been detained at one stage of the protest, while other reports put the number at around 1,100 as the police action continued.

Among those detained were Aam Aadmi Party leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and other opposition activists, as well as representatives of student organisations including the All India Students Association (AISA), Students' Federation of India (SFI) and National Students' Union of India (NSUI).

Police had refused permission for the planned demonstration and imposed restrictions in parts of central Delhi. Protesters were prevented from moving towards Jantar Mantar, while additional security forces were deployed in the area.

Despite the restrictions, groups of protesters gathered around Janpath and other parts of central Delhi, raising slogans against the Election Commission and demanding accountability over the voter-roll revision process.

Mumbai Demonstration

A separate protest was held at Mumbai's Shivaji Park, where supporters of the youth-led Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) demanded Kumar's resignation.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has accused the Election Commission of manipulating voter rolls through the SIR process and called for greater transparency in the appointment and functioning of the country's top election officials. The organisation has announced plans to take its campaign to other Indian cities.

Hundreds of CJP supporters gathered at Shivaji Park on Friday, according to reports. The protest marked the beginning of a broader campaign that the organisation says will extend to several cities, including Goa, Bengaluru and Kolkata, before culminating in another demonstration in New Delhi.

The protesters have alleged that millions of eligible voters were removed from electoral rolls during the revision process. CJP has cited a figure of around 130 million affected voters, although that figure represents the protesters' claim and has not been established as an independent fact.

Opposition Raises Political Concerns

Opposition parties have also criticised the SIR exercise, arguing that large-scale changes to electoral rolls could affect voters' ability to participate in elections.

Some opposition leaders have alleged that the revision process could disproportionately affect voters who are critical of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The allegations have become part of a wider political dispute over the Election Commission's independence and the administration of electoral processes.

The Election Commission and ruling-party representatives have rejected the allegations of deliberate manipulation.

The dispute has also intensified following reports of differences within the Election Commission over aspects of the SIR exercise. The allegations have prompted opposition parties and civil society groups to call for greater transparency in the process and stronger safeguards for eligible voters.

Election Commission Defends Revision Process

The Election Commission has maintained that the electoral-roll revision is intended to identify eligible voters and correct inaccuracies in the voter lists.

The commission has also said that voters who were wrongly excluded or who become newly eligible can apply for inclusion through the established procedures. Following the controversy, the commission has ordered the inclusion of newly eligible and previously omitted voters, according to reports.

The commission's position has not satisfied the opposition groups, which continue to demand greater transparency and accountability.

Protests Expected to Continue

Friday's demonstrations mark another escalation in the dispute over India's voter-roll revision process. Protest organisers have indicated that demonstrations could spread to additional cities if their demands are not addressed.

The controversy has placed renewed focus on the balance between maintaining accurate electoral rolls and ensuring that eligible citizens are not excluded from the voting process.

With the Election Commission defending the legality of the revision and opposition groups continuing to challenge its implementation, the dispute is likely to remain a significant political and electoral issue in India in the coming weeks.