India: Police briefly detained opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and several other lawmakers during a protest in New Delhi demanding greater transparency in the revision of electoral rolls and the resignation of the country’s election chief.
Gandhi, a senior Congress Party leader, joined opposition lawmakers in a march toward the Election Commission headquarters on Tuesday. Police stopped the protesters with barricades before detaining Gandhi and other lawmakers. They were released shortly afterward.
The opposition has accused the Election Commission of conducting the voter-list revision in a manner that could exclude eligible voters, including members of marginalised and minority communities. The Election Commission has rejected allegations of wrongdoing and said the exercise is intended to improve the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls.
Why are India’s opposition parties protesting?
The protest is part of a wider opposition campaign against the revision of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have demanded greater transparency from the Election Commission and called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to step down.
Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of using the electoral process to influence political outcomes.
The BJP rejected the allegations, accusing opposition parties of deliberately attacking India’s democratic institutions. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said the Congress was seeking to use the issue to advance Gandhi’s political ambitions.
What does the voter-roll controversy involve?
The dispute intensified after a report by The Indian Express raised questions about the electoral-roll revision process. According to the report cited by Reuters, the names of around 130 million citizens have been removed since the exercise began in 2025.
Opposition parties argue that changes to voter lists could disenfranchise eligible voters and have called for the process to be made more transparent.
The Election Commission maintains that the revision is designed to identify fraudulent registrations and prevent ineligible voters, including illegal foreign immigrants, from participating in elections.
India’s Supreme Court on Monday directed the government and Election Commission to explain decisions related to the revision exercise, with another hearing expected next week.
Further protests are planned in New Delhi, with student and opposition groups expected to participate.