Thousands rally in New Delhi demanding India’s election chief resign over voter-roll revision as opposition pressure on Modi grows

Thousands of protesters marched through New Delhi on Sunday demanding the resignation of India’s chief election commissioner over a nationwide revision of voter lists, extending a wave of opposition demonstrations that has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for more than a month.

Demonstrators accused the Election Commission of India of manipulating electoral rolls in favor of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to step down.

The protest was led by the opposition Congress party and joined by other members of the INDIA alliance, which has intensified its campaign against the voter-list revision.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the Election Commission and the BJP of working together to remove legitimate voters and add fraudulent entries, allegations both the commission and the ruling party reject.

The Election Commission says the revision is necessary to remove duplicate entries, deceased voters and people who have moved, while ensuring that only eligible citizens remain on the electoral rolls.

Critics argue that the process could disproportionately remove poor, migrant and minority voters who may have difficulty producing documentation required to remain registered.

Sunday’s demonstration was the latest in a series of opposition protests over the past five weeks, adding electoral integrity to broader criticism of Modi’s government.

The dispute has become a significant political test for Modi as opposition parties seek to turn concerns over voter registration into a nationwide campaign ahead of upcoming state elections.

Police deployed heavily across central New Delhi, with barricades erected around key government buildings as protesters marched and chanted slogans demanding accountability from the Election Commission.