Opposition Leaders Detained in Delhi Over Election Commission Controversy
Delhi police apprehended several opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, during a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Opposition leaders were detained while protesting against the Election Commission's voter roll revision.
The protest follows allegations of improper voter exclusions and calls for Kumar's resignation.
The Supreme Court is involved, asking for responses from the government and Election Commission regarding the controversy.
In a significant political protest in Delhi, police detained multiple opposition lawmakers, including prominent figures Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, as they attempted to march towards the Election Commission's headquarters. The demonstration was aimed at demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a contentious revision of voter rolls that opposition parties claim could benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). After their initial detention, the MPs were released and continued their protest with a sit-in near the commission's office.
The backdrop to this protest is a nationwide revision of electoral rolls, which has sparked fierce criticism from opposition parties. They argue that the process, overseen by Kumar, has led to the wrongful exclusion of eligible voters, undermining the integrity of the electoral system. The Election Commission has stated that the revision aims to eliminate duplicate and ineligible voters, claiming that over 130 million names have been removed from draft lists across the country since the initiative began in June 2025.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Manjeet Sheoran confirmed that officers were deployed at various locations to manage the protest, although the exact number of detained lawmakers was not disclosed. The opposition claims that 237 MPs from various parties participated in the march. This protest follows a recent series of demonstrations organized by the Cockroach Janta Party, which has called for continued protests to amplify their demands for Kumar's resignation.
The controversy surrounding the Election Commission has intensified following reports that two election commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, raised formal objections to several decisions made by Kumar without their consent. These objections pertained to critical issues such as voter roll management and data security, raising concerns about the commission's operational transparency. Despite these allegations, the Election Commission has defended its decision-making process, asserting that differing opinions are a natural aspect of its functioning.
As the situation unfolds, the Supreme Court has intervened, requesting responses from both the federal government and the Election Commission regarding claims that Kumar acted beyond his authority. The court has indicated that decisions within the commission should be made either unanimously or by majority vote, suggesting that any actions taken without proper consensus could be invalidated. However, it has opted not to suspend Kumar at this time, choosing instead to await further information from the Election Commission before proceeding.
