India’s opposition parties are preparing a series of nationwide protests over allegations of irregularities in voter lists, intensifying pressure on the country’s Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The INDIA opposition alliance announced the demonstrations Wednesday following a newspaper report that said the Election Commission moved ahead with large-scale changes to electoral rolls despite concerns raised by two commissioners.
Opposition parties have alleged that voter lists were manipulated in ways that benefited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Election Commission of India has rejected the allegations, maintaining that its actions were lawful. The commission has also said differences of opinion are normal within institutions.
Opposition announces protest schedule
The INDIA alliance, which brings together roughly two dozen opposition parties, agreed on the protest campaign during a meeting Wednesday attended by representatives from 20 parties.
According to the Congress party, opposition leaders plan to march to the Election Commission’s office on Oct. 6, followed by a major rally in New Delhi on Nov. 1.
The alliance also intends to make a formal representation to India’s president.
The demonstrations will demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who has faced mounting criticism from opposition parties over the handling of electoral rolls.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the opposition would continue pressing the issue following Wednesday’s meeting.
“We are going to ensure that the people who have destroyed Indian democracy are punished,” Gandhi told reporters.
The Election Commission has denied wrongdoing and defended the legality of the voter-list changes.
Election Commission faces growing pressure
The dispute comes amid heightened scrutiny of India’s system for reviewing and updating voter rolls.
Opposition parties contend that changes to voter lists could affect electoral participation and have accused authorities of implementing the process in a manner favourable to the governing BJP.
The Election Commission has consistently rejected claims of political manipulation and maintained that its procedures comply with election laws.
Pressure on Kumar is also coming from outside the country’s established political parties.
A youth-led protest movement known as the “cockroach” movement has separately demanded his resignation and is preparing to hold a demonstration on Friday.
The group gained national attention earlier this year after protests contributed to the resignation of India’s education minister in July.
The latest demonstrations are expected to keep the Election Commission at the centre of a broader political dispute over the administration of India’s elections, with opposition parties demanding greater scrutiny of voter-list changes while election authorities continue to reject allegations that the process was manipulated for partisan advantage.
