India's opposition holds rally seeking election chief's resignation

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 1 Nov, 06:09 · Archive

India's opposition alliance held a mega rally in Delhi demanding the resignation of the chief election commissioner over a voter roll revision.

India's opposition alliance held a mega rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Sunday, with leaders claiming a million people could attend. The rally, led by the Congress party and supported by several allied parties and pressure groups, was called to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and electoral reforms.

The protest centres on a nationwide voter list revision exercise, known as the Special Intensive Revision, which has removed 130 million names from draft rolls. The Election Commission of India says the exercise aims to update the voters' list by removing names of people who have died or moved away from their registered addresses. However, opposition parties allege it could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party by removing eligible voters. Both the BJP and the Election Commission have denied the allegations.

The Indian Express reported in September that Chief Election Commissioner Kumar made key decisions related to the exercise without agreement from the two other election commissioners, who raised objections on more than a dozen occasions. The Election Commission responded that differences of opinion were normal in any institution and did not affect its functioning. The previous evening, opposition parties staged a mock impeachment of Kumar as they intensified their campaign.

How it is being reported

• India tightens security as opposition holds mega rally demanding election chief’s resignationIndian law enforcement officials armed with batons and shields on Sunday surrounded the site of a planned opposition rally in New Delhi. India's main opposition parties and the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party are demanding the resignation of the country's election chief over voter list revisions that critics say favour Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party.France 24 · 1 Nov, 06:24
• Indian forces tighten security in Delhi ahead of big opposition protestOpposition says hundreds of thousands of people expected to participate in march demanding election chief resign over voter list changes Indian security personnel carrying batons and shields and accompanied by riot control vehicles surrounded the site of a planned opposition protest in Delhi on Sunday that is set to demand the resignation of the country’s election chief over a controversial revision of voter lists. Authorities warned of traffic diversions ahead of the protest march and rally that will be led by Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi. The opposition says it expects hundreds of…The Guardian · 1 Nov, 06:20
• India news: Opposition holds major rally in Delhi over voter roll revisionsThousands are expected to take part in the Indian opposition's planned mega march in New Delhi over a controversial revision of electoral rolls. DW has more.DW News · 1 Nov, 05:56
• India's opposition set to hold mega rally seeking election chief's resignationIt comes amid growing protests over a voter roll revision exercise feared to leave 130 million voters off rolls.BBC World · 1 Nov, 00:12

In this story: Rahul Gandhi · Gyanesh Kumar · Congress party · Bharatiya Janata Party · Election Commission of India · Delhi · India

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