Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Protests Escalate as Demonstrators Demand Election Chief’s Resignation
People protested in Delhi and Mumbai about changes to India’s voter lists.
They want election chief Gyanesh Kumar to resign and want the voter-list exercise stopped.
Protesters say eligible people have been removed and may lose their chance to vote.
The Election Commission says it is checking the lists to remove duplicate, deceased or ineligible names.
It also told officials to add eligible people who were left off by mistake.
Police stopped people from gathering in Delhi and detained many protesters.
A newspaper reported at least 700 detentions in Delhi on October 2, though police did not give a total for the three days.
In Mumbai, thousands gathered near Shivaji Park, where there were speeches and a performance by Vishal Dadlani.
Opposition parties planned another march to the Election Commission office.
Protesters gathered in Delhi and Mumbai on October 2 and again in Delhi on October 4, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign and the voter-roll revision be scrapped.
Demonstrators say the Special Intensive Revision has removed eligible voters; Rediff reported 13.3 crore deletions across 20 states and Union territories.
The Election Commission says the exercise removes duplicate, deceased or ineligible entries and has directed officials to register eligible voters inadvertently omitted.
Delhi Police restricted access to protest sites and detained demonstrators; The Hindu reported at least 700 detentions on October 2, while Reuters said police did not give a total for the three days.
Thousands attended the Mumbai rally near Shivaji Park, where organisers addressed the crowd from an open truck and Vishal Dadlani performed; opposition parties planned a march to the Election Commission office.
- Who
- Protesters, youth groups and opposition figures, including Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray, called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
- What
- Demonstrations against the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls and alleged removal of eligible voters.
- When
- October 2, 2026, with further protests reported on October 4.
- Where
- Delhi, including the Jantar Mantar area, and Mumbai, around Shivaji Park.
- Why
- Protesters say eligible voters have been removed and their voting rights are at risk; the Election Commission says the revision is intended to maintain electoral integrity.
Protesters’ claims
Election Commission and BJP responses
Voter-roll revision
Protesters’ claims
Protesters say the SIR has removed eligible voters and threatens their right to vote. Some participants said family members had been removed from the rolls.
Election Commission and BJP responses
The Election Commission says the exercise is intended to remove duplicate, deceased or ineligible entries and preserve electoral integrity. Reuters reported that the Commission and BJP deny allegations that the changes benefit the governing party.
Resignation demand
Protesters’ claims
Demonstrators hold Kumar responsible for the revision and demand that he resign.
Election Commission and BJP responses
Kumar had not responded to the demand in the reports. The Commission directed officials to register eligible voters inadvertently omitted from electoral rolls.
- Main demand
- Protesters called for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and the scrapping of the SIR exercise.
- Exercise
- The Special Intensive Revision checks voter-roll entries.
- Reported deletions
- Rediff reported 13.3 crore (133 million) deletions across 20 states and Union territories.
- Delhi detentions
- The Hindu reported at least 700 protesters detained on October 2; Reuters said police did not comment on totals or identities across three days.
- Mumbai rally
- Thousands gathered near Shivaji Park on October 2 despite police refusing permission; leaders spoke from an open truck.
- Election Commission position
- It says the exercise removes duplicate, deceased or ineligible entries and directed officials to register eligible voters inadvertently omitted.
- Planned action
- Opposition parties planned a march to the Election Commission office on Monday, October 5.
