Opposition leaders join Delhi march as pressure mounts on Modi’s BJP

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Thousands of protesters led by opposition figures marched in Delhi demanding the resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the contentious removal of more than 130 million names from electoral rolls, which critics claim disproportionately affected minority voters. The protests highlight deepening political tensions ahead of further demonstrations, as opposition leaders seek legal and public avenues to challenge the Election Commission and call for electoral reforms.

Thousands of protesters, led by opposition leaders, returned to the streets of Delhi on Tuesday to demand the resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid growing controversy over the recent revision of India’s electoral rolls. The protesters aimed to march to the Supreme Court to submit a petition calling for Kumar’s removal, but police blocked their advance approximately 600 meters from the court, forcing many demonstrators to turn back.

India’s main opposition alliance, fronted by Rahul Gandhi, organized the procession following a weekend marked by mass detentions, as authorities sought to curb public demonstrations against the government-backed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise conducted by the Election Commission. Since last year, the commission has removed in excess of 130 million names from voter lists, a figure larger than the population of Japan, sparking allegations from opposition parties and civil society groups that the process disproportionately affected Muslim voters and other minorities less likely to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Election Commission has denied partisanship, stating that any voters wrongly removed can re-enroll, while the BJP has dismissed critics’ claims as attempts to undermine India’s democratic system. Despite policing efforts, a legal team confirmed that the petition requesting Kumar’s resignation was formally submitted on Gandhi’s behalf. Later in the day, Gandhi managed to breach police barricades and reach the Supreme Court gates.

At a press conference prior to the march, Gandhi accused Kumar and the Modi government of orchestrating “vote chori,” or electoral theft, and called for sweeping reforms to India’s electoral system, vowing that youth-led protests would continue until “justice is served for India.” Gandhi’s comments followed his repeated detentions last week alongside other opposition figures attempting to rally at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in central Delhi.

Among the opposition leaders participating was West Bengal lawmaker Mahua Moitra, who has accused officials in her constituency of removing over 10,000 voters unlawfully. She criticized not only the government and the Election Commission but also the Supreme Court for sanctioning the revision process. “When the history of this dark chapter of India is written, the supreme court will be the most disgraced,” Moitra said, condemning the court’s role in approving what she described as government illegality.

The controversy over the SIR exercise gained renewed attention following reports that highlighted procedural irregularities. While Gandhi and others have long alleged electoral manipulation by the BJP, the issue intensified after detailed investigations publicized concerns about the roll revisions.

Protests are expected to persist, with leaders of the Cockroach Janata party formally seeking permission from Delhi police to conduct demonstrations without interference. They have warned that if permission is denied, they plan to mobilize supporters to stage further street protests across the capital.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.