Photos: Thousands join India’s opposition rally against election chief | Protests News
Mass Protests in New Delhi Demand Resignation of Election Chief
New Delhi — Thousands of protesters took to the streets on Sunday, demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration was fueled by allegations from opposition parties that recent changes to voter lists benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party.
Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress, spearheaded the protest, which marks the latest event in a series of demonstrations that have persisted for over a month. Protesters accuse Kumar of overseeing a biased revision of electoral rolls, significantly impacting the representation of minorities, particularly Muslims.
Opposition leaders claim that more than 130 million names have been removed from the voter lists, disproportionately affecting those less likely to support Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In response, the Election Commission has rejected assertions of bias, stating that voters whose names were improperly deleted can re-register.
The BJP, meanwhile, has accused opposition groups of undermining democracy by questioning legitimate electoral processes.
India’s next general election is set to take place in 2029.
