Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Pressure Mounts on India Poll Chief Over Voter-List Changes
India’s chief election official is facing calls to resign.
Opposition parties and a youth group say changes to voter lists may have been manipulated.
A newspaper reported that two of his deputies objected to some election decisions.
Election Commission figures show that more than 130 million names have been removed from voter lists since revisions began last year.
The government, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Election Commission deny the accusations.
The Commission says differing views are normal inside an institution.
A youth group plans to protest in New Delhi, and opposition parties have also demonstrated.
Kumar has defended the Commission’s work and said it treats everyone equally.
Opposition parties and the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party are demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign over alleged voter-list manipulation.
The Indian Express reported that Kumar’s two deputies made at least 14 formal objections over 10 months concerning voter rolls, registration procedures and digital systems.
Election Commission data shows more than 130 million names have been removed from voter lists since the latest revision began last year.
The government, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Election Commission have denied accusations of efforts to manipulate voter lists.
The Cockroach Janta Party called a New Delhi protest for Saturday, while the Congress-led opposition alliance held protests this week.
- Who
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, opposition parties and the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party.
- What
- Opposition groups are calling for Kumar to resign over allegations of voter-list manipulation.
- When
- The pressure followed an Indian Express report last month; protests took place this week, with another called for Saturday.
- Where
- New Delhi, India; the voter-list revisions concern India.
- Why
- Critics cite alleged manipulation of voter lists and reported objections by two election commissioners to decisions about rolls, registration and digital systems.
Critics
Election Commission and Government
Voter-list changes
Critics
Opposition parties accuse the government of trying to alter voter lists to its advantage and cite concerns raised in the Indian Express report.
Election Commission and Government
The government, Bharatiya Janata Party and Election Commission deny the accusations.
Commission deliberations
Critics
Critics point to reported formal objections by Kumar’s deputies concerning voter rolls, registration procedures and digital systems.
Election Commission and Government
The Election Commission says differing views and observations are a normal part of institutional deliberation.
- Chief Election Commissioner
- Gyanesh Kumar, 62
- Appointment
- Became chief election commissioner in February 2025
- Names removed
- More than 130 million since the latest revision began last year
- Reported objections
- At least 14 formal objections by Kumar’s two deputies over 10 months, according to the Indian Express report
- Registered voters
- 960 million
- Voters in 2024 general election
- Nearly 650 million
- Planned demonstration
- The Cockroach Janta Party called a protest in New Delhi for Saturday