Key facts
- India's opposition parties are protesting a nationwide revision of voter rolls.
- Protesters allege that millions of eligible voters have been removed from electoral lists.
- Opposition parties claim the voter-roll revision benefits Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling BJP party.
- The Election Commission of India and the BJP deny the allegations.
- Protests have taken place in New Delhi and Mumbai.
- Police have detained protesters and registered cases against some.
India's opposition parties have escalated protests over a nationwide revision of voter rolls, presenting a new challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government months before state polls. Protesters allege that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has overseen revisions that have removed millions of eligible voters, a move they claim is designed to benefit Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Thousands of protesters, led by opposition figures including Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray, have rallied in cities like New Delhi and Mumbai. The demonstrations began on Friday, with demands for the resignation of ECI chief Gyanesh Kumar. Police in New Delhi have detained dozens of protesters and registered cases against some for violating orders banning mass gatherings, in an effort to prevent assemblies.
The ECI maintains that the voter-roll revision aims to remove duplicate, deceased, or ineligible entries to uphold electoral integrity. The commission has also directed officials to register eligible voters who may have been inadvertently omitted. Both the ECI and the BJP have denied the allegations of voter disenfranchisement.
Despite the crackdown, protests are expected to continue, with further rallies planned. An alliance of opposition parties intends to march to the ECI office on Tuesday to "save democracy," and the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a major rally for October 10.