NEW DELHI: India’s youth-led movement and opposition parties have planned major protests in the capital on Sunday against the manipulation of the electoral process to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi urged students, farmers, workers, traders and young people to join the campaign against PM Modi’s government.
The “Save the Vote, Save the Country” march and rally will be held at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on November 1. The Congress-led opposition alliance, known as the INDIA bloc, is seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and action over the removal of millions of names from voter lists.
Gandhi has accused the authorities of violating electoral rules and said the removal of voters’ names threatened democratic rights. The Election Commission and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) deny allegations that the revision was politically motivated.
Removal of 130 Million Voters
The controversy centres on a nationwide exercise to verify electoral rolls that began last year. Election Commission data shows that about 130 million names have been removed from voter lists, including those of people recorded as deceased, people who had relocated and people officials could not trace.
Opposition parties and activists say the process excluded eligible voters to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP.
Opposition parties have also raised concerns that Muslims and other minority communities have been disproportionately affected by the deletions.
The dispute intensified after The Indian Express reported in September that two election commissioners had raised objections to decisions concerning voter registration procedures and the commission’s digital systems.
Opposition parties have called for Kumar’s resignation and demanded that eligible voters whose names were removed be restored to the rolls. They have also sought greater transparency in the revision process.
Youth Movement Challenges Modi
The planned rally comes amid a wider wave of demonstrations led the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which emerged from protests over education and examination-related grievances before expanding its campaign to electoral issues.
The movement has demanded Kumar’s resignation and accused the BJP government of undermining voting rights. Its supporters have joined opposition politicians and civil society groups in demonstrations in New Delhi and other parts of India.
The protests gained momentum after earlier demonstrations over examination irregularities, unemployment and other grievances among young people. The movement has since broadened its demands to include electoral accountability and concerns about democratic institutions.
The latest campaign has brought student activists and established opposition parties into a common protest movement, although they have different priorities.
Protests and Police Crackdown
Demonstrations in New Delhi have led to confrontations with police, detentions and restrictions on movement in the capital.
On October 10, authorities deployed thousands of police and paramilitary personnel ahead of a protest called by the CJP. Police restrictions included the closure of metro stations and the cancellation of long-distance trains serving the capital.
Thousands of people were detained during the security operation, according to reports by international media. Protesters and opposition leaders criticised the measures, saying they restricted the right to demonstrate.
On October 12, opposition supporters marched to the Supreme Court to challenge the voter-roll revision and demand Kumar’s resignation. The opposition also pursued legal action over the changes.
The demonstrations have continued despite the restrictions, with opposition parties seeking to broaden public participation in the campaign.
Opposition Seeks Wider Mobilisation
Gandhi has urged people from different sections of society to attend Sunday’s rally to defend voting rights and democratic institutions.
The Congress has also sought to mobilise party workers and supporters across the country. Opposition leaders say the rally should increase pressure on the Election Commission to address concerns over the revision and restore the names of eligible voters.
