Indian opposition parties demand Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in voter-list revisions.
WEB DESK: Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and several opposition lawmakers were detained by police in New Delhi on Wednesday as protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar entered a second consecutive day.
The demonstrations centre on allegations of irregularities in the revision of India’s electoral rolls. The Election Commission and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have denied accusations of wrongdoing.
Opposition protest blocked in Delhi
Gandhi and other opposition lawmakers were attempting to reach Jantar Mantar for a protest when police stopped them and diverted their route.
Reuters reported that the lawmakers were detained for the third time in two days during the latest demonstrations. Visuals showed security personnel taking Gandhi and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra away in separate vehicles.
The protesters are demanding Kumar’s resignation and seeking answers over the revision of voter lists under the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision process.
Opposition parties have alleged that the changes could affect voters and have questioned the neutrality of the electoral process. Those claims remain disputed.
Protests follow voter-list controversy
The demonstrations intensified after an Indian Express report highlighted disagreements within the Election Commission over aspects of voter-list revisions.
The controversy has raised questions among opposition parties about the functioning and independence of the election body. Congress leaders have accused the commission of failing to adequately address their concerns.
The Election Commission and BJP reject the opposition’s allegations. The commission has maintained that the voter-list revision process is intended to ensure the accuracy of electoral rolls and remove ineligible entries.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has not publicly commented on the latest protests, according to Reuters.
Rahul Gandhi among detained lawmakers
Wednesday’s action followed a similar confrontation a day earlier.
On Tuesday, opposition lawmakers attempted to march from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters. Police erected barricades and detained several lawmakers after the protesters attempted to move beyond the designated route.
Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders later staged a lengthy sit-in near Akashvani Bhavan before police removed them.
The latest protest again brought Gandhi and other opposition leaders into confrontation with security personnel as they attempted to reach the designated demonstration site.
Opposition demands election chief’s resignation
The INDIA bloc opposition parties have called for Kumar to resign, arguing that the electoral-roll revision process requires greater transparency.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and other opposition leaders have also raised broader concerns about electoral integrity and the functioning of India’s election institutions.
The opposition’s allegations are political claims and have not been independently established as evidence of electoral manipulation. The Election Commission and BJP have rejected accusations of wrongdoing.
Political tensions continue
The demonstrations represent another confrontation between India’s opposition parties and the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The protests also come after youth-led demonstrations earlier this year that resulted in the resignation of India’s education minister over examination-related controversies, according to Reuters.
For now, the dispute remains focused on the electoral-roll revision process and the opposition’s demand for accountability from the Election Commission.
Further protests and political negotiations are expected as opposition parties continue pressing for answers from the poll body.
