Authorities in Delhi closed six metro stations and imposed traffic restrictions on Monday as opposition parties and supporters of the youth-led “Cockroach” movement mounted protests against a contentious voter list revision, intensifying unrest in the Indian capital.

The opposition has called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over changes to the electoral rolls, which critics say disproportionately benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The revision, initiated last year, resulted in the removal of more than 130 million names from India's voter lists—exceeding the population of Japan. This figure includes roughly 28 million deceased individuals, about 63 million who moved away, and 30 million who police could not locate.

Demonstrations have been ongoing almost daily this month, with thousands detained by police over the weekend. Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth movement, sought to march in protest but were blocked by extensive security deployments that effectively locked down central Delhi.

Delhi Police cited “security reasons” for closing six metro stations and enforced traffic diversions across more than 20 routes. Hundreds of personnel wearing anti-riot gear were stationed in core areas of the city, with barricades erected on key roads and water cannons on standby. Authorities also revoked Jantar Mantar's status as an official protest site, designating three alternate locations. Jantar Mantar, a historic observatory and longstanding venue for demonstrations, had seen months-long sit-ins by the Cockroach movement earlier this year demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam paper leaks.

The main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, announced plans to march to the Supreme Court to file a petition challenging the voter list revision. Their earlier request to meet Chief Justice Surya Kant was rejected, with the judge emphasizing that the issues are already under judicial consideration and that discussing ongoing cases would breach ethical standards. Kant encouraged the opposition to formally submit a petition instead.

Meanwhile, the CJP said its leaders were in talks with Delhi Police to secure a date for a peaceful protest. Spokesperson Saurav Das urged authorities to respond within 24 hours, warning that the movement would press ahead.

The revision of voter registers has drawn allegations from opposition quarters that Muslim voters and other minorities—groups less likely to support the Hindu nationalist BJP—have been unfairly targeted. Both the Election Commission and the ruling party deny these claims, asserting that the process is impartial and that erroneously removed voters can re-enroll.

Internal concerns about the voter list updates were highlighted last month when Indian Express reported that Kumar’s deputies had raised questions about the procedures and the digital systems used. The issue remains a significant source of political tension, challenging Modi’s 12-year tenure and fueling widespread protests over electoral fairness.