Thousands of protesters gathered in Delhi on Sunday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over controversial revisions to voter lists that allegedly favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The protests, led by Congress party chief Rahul Gandhi, are part of a broader opposition movement that has gained momentum over the past month, marking what analysts describe as the most significant crisis for Modi since he took office in 2014.
The revisions to the voter rolls have resulted in the removal of over 130 million names, raising concerns that this disproportionately affects Muslim voters and other minorities who typically do not support the BJP. The Election Commission has denied any bias, stating that those wrongly removed can re-enroll.
However, opposition leaders and protesters argue that the deletions are part of a strategy to undermine democracy. Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda dismissed the protests as a 'calculated conspiracy' aimed at creating chaos.
As the opposition continues to mobilize support, the implications for Modi's administration and the upcoming electoral landscape could be significant, despite the next general election not being scheduled until 2029