Police in Delhi detained several opposition lawmakers as they tried to march demanding the chief election commissioner resign over a controversial voter roll revision.
Main opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka and other MPs were forced into a police bus. Released shortly after, they resumed their march and began a sit‑in near Election Commission headquarters. The protest is part of a growing row over the nationwide revision of voter rolls.
Opposition parties accuse Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of overseeing a process that could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP, an allegation both the BJP and the Election Commission have rejected.
Lawmakers reported that 237 MPs from various parties joined the march, but the police did not disclose how many were detained. Following the protest, security officials blocked roads from Parliament to the commission, tightening security around the headquarters.
A court has asked the federal government and the Election Commission to respond to a petition alleging that Kumar took key decisions without the approval of the other commission members. The appeal argues that decisions should be unanimous, and it seeks a ruling that Kumar’s actions were unauthorised. The Supreme Court declined to suspend him at this stage but will hear the Commission’s response.
Opposition leaders outlined three non‑negotiable demands: Kumar’s resignation, cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision exercise and a return to paper ballot voting. Rahul Gandhi mocked the election chief on social media, tweeting, "Gyanesh, it’s done, bro. Time to resign." The BJP condemned the protests, calling them an attempt to undermine constitutional institutions.
