New Delhi Sees Escalating Protests Over Voter List Purge, Demands CEC Resignation

Published On 12 Oct 202612 Oct 2026

Thousands of demonstrators marched through New Delhi demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner over alleged misconduct in the recent voter roll revision.

Monday’s demonstrations marked the latest clash with authorities in the heavily fortified capital.

Opposition parties and supporters of the youth‑led Cockroach Janta Party movement have taken to the streets in recent days, defying a strict security clampdown to demand the government halt voter deletions and call for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

More than 133 million names have been removed from voter lists since last year, according to media reports. Approximately 969 million people were eligible to vote in India’s 2024 general election.

Critics contend that the large‑scale revision of electoral rolls could advantage Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Election Commission of India, which oversees the voting process in the world’s most populous nation, has denied any wrongdoing.

Authorities deployed thousands of security personnel across central Delhi for a third consecutive day, erecting heavy metal barricades and closing key metro stations.

Public attention has also focused on the police response, after a weekend in which thousands of protesters, including organisers, were detained, according to local media reports.

Most of those detained, including three senior leaders of the Cockroach movement, have since been released.

Several journalists covering the protests said they were detained despite clearly displaying their press cards.

The demonstrations have become a major political challenge for Modi, uniting opposition parties, student groups and activists angered by the voter roll revision.

Critics say the measure has disproportionately affected minorities, particularly Muslims.

Election authorities say the move was intended to eliminate duplicate, deceased and fraudulent names.

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