Protests across India call for election chief’s resignation

Opposition parties, civil society activists and youth and student organisations held protests across India on Friday, October 2, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, according to The Hindu. In Delhi, more than 500 people, including former Chief Minister Atishi, were detained by police. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi condemned the action and said the protesters’ “only crime” was questioning alleged vote theft.

Opposition leaders said demonstrations would continue. Authorities deployed Delhi Police, central forces and the Rapid Action Force around Jantar Mantar. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita restricted public meetings in the Parliament Street area, while entry and exit were closed at 12 nearby metro stations.

Internet services at the protest site were also suspended for part of the day, affecting shopkeepers and gig workers who relied on digital payments. Services were later restored. Protesters said police had denied permission even at the designated demonstration site.

In Mumbai, thousands gathered at Shivaji Park for a protest led by the Cockroach Janata Party. Actors and artists, including Shabana Azmi and Vishal Dadlani, joined the event, where speakers called for electoral reforms and Kumar’s resignation. Protests were also reported in Kerala, Srinagar, Jaipur and Vijayawada.

In Kerala, Communist Party of India (Marxist) units rallied over Kumar’s position and the arrests in Delhi. In Srinagar, police stopped Congress workers from leaving their party office. In Vijayawada, opposition parties, Left groups and civil society organisations demanded Kumar’s removal, suspension of the Special Intensive Revision and restructuring of the Election Commission.

They alleged that more than 13 crore names had been excluded from draft electoral rolls, a claim presented by the protesters.