Protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar were held in Delhi and Mumbai on Friday, October 2. Delhi Police detained more than 700 people near Jantar Mantar, including Aam Aadmi Party leaders and members of AISA, SFI and other student organisations.
The demonstrations were linked to concerns raised by protesters over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Protesters have demanded Kumar’s resignation, alleging irregularities in the voter-list revision process. The Election Commission has defended the exercise, saying it is intended to remove duplicate, deceased and ineligible entries while updating electoral rolls.
In Delhi, heavy security was deployed around Jantar Mantar and access to the protest site was restricted from several routes. Entry and exit at several nearby Metro stations were also temporarily closed amid the security arrangements.
Meanwhile, security was tightened around Shivaji Park in Mumbai, where the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) had called for a protest demanding Kumar’s resignation. Mumbai Police had denied permission for the gathering, citing restrictions governing assemblies at the venue. Protesters nevertheless began gathering in the area, according to reports.
The protests come amid an ongoing political and institutional debate over the voter-roll revision process and the functioning of the Election Commission.
