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Opposition Protesters Demand Election Chief’s Resignation Over Voter Roll Changes
Opposition parties and other groups protested in New Delhi on October 6.
They want election chief Gyanesh Kumar to resign because they disagree with changes to voter lists.
They worry that people who are allowed to vote might be left off the lists.
Some protesters also accused the Election Commission of helping the ruling party, but the Commission and government rejected claims of wrongdoing.
The Commission says it is checking lists to remove duplicate or ineligible names and keep eligible voters registered.
Police stopped the march near the Commission’s office, and several leaders were detained.
The Supreme Court did not temporarily stop Kumar from working because it said the facts needed checking.
INDIA bloc leaders and other groups protested in New Delhi on October 6, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other opposition leaders marched from Parliament toward the Election Commission’s headquarters; several were detained after police stopped the march.
Protesters alleged the revision could remove eligible voters and accused the Election Commission of mishandling the process; some alleged it could benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
The Election Commission and government rejected allegations of wrongdoing; the Commission said revision decisions were unanimous and the exercise is intended to remove duplicate and ineligible entries while keeping eligible voters registered.
The Supreme Court declined to temporarily restrain Kumar from functioning, saying it needed to verify the facts before acting.
- Who
- INDIA bloc opposition leaders, student groups and youth and civic organisations; leaders detained included Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
- What
- They protested and demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Where
- New Delhi, on a march from Parliament toward the Election Commission of India’s headquarters.
- When
- October 6; the articles describe the demonstration as Tuesday’s protest.
- Why
- Protesters say the revision could exclude eligible voters and have called for transparency; the Election Commission says it is meant to remove duplicate and ineligible entries.
Opposition and critics
Election Commission and government
Effects of voter-roll revision
Opposition and critics
Opposition parties and critics say document and verification requirements could make it difficult for some people to prove eligibility and could leave genuine voters off the rolls.
Election Commission and government
The Election Commission says the revision is intended to remove duplicate and ineligible entries while ensuring eligible voters remain registered.
Conduct of the Election Commission
Opposition and critics
Opposition leaders demand Kumar’s resignation and accuse the Commission of mishandling the revision; one article reports allegations that voter registrations are being manipulated to benefit the ruling BJP.
Election Commission and government
The Election Commission and government reject allegations of wrongdoing. The Commission says decisions relating to the revision were unanimous.
Key facts
- Protest date
- October 6
- Main demand
- Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation as Chief Election Commissioner
- Issue
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- March route
- From Parliament toward the Election Commission of India’s headquarters
- Detentions
- Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other opposition leaders were detained
- Reported voter deletions
- One article says more than 13 crore voters had been deleted
- Supreme Court
- Declined to issue an interim order restraining Kumar, saying it needed to verify the facts
Sources
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