Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has been detained for the third time in two days during a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a revision of voter lists. Gandhi and other opposition lawmakers were apprehended by police on Wednesday as they marched towards Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in New Delhi. A live feed on the YouTube channel of Gandhi’s Congress Party showed police taking him into a vehicle and driving away. Authorities also detained several other opposition lawmakers and protesters.
Opposition parties, their student units, and the 'Cockroach' youth movement have been demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the Election Commission of benefiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The Election Commission has removed more than 130 million names from the voter lists, with millions appealing the removals. Approximately 969 million people are eligible to vote in the 2024 election.
Protesters allege that the changes disproportionately removed voters who support opposition parties while preserving or adding voters more likely to back Modi’s party. The commission and government deny these allegations, stating that the revision aims to remove duplicate and ineligible entries while ensuring that eligible voters remain registered.
Before his detention on Wednesday, Gandhi stated that protesters showed up unannounced after Delhi police had previously stopped their gathering. He expressed that they would proceed to the designated protest site to voice their concerns, asserting that Gyanesh Kumar is not a legitimate commissioner and calling for his resignation.
There was no immediate comment from the police regarding the detentions. The demonstrations pose a political challenge to Modi midway through his third term, following similar protests that led to the resignation of his education minister over exam paper leaks. The 'Cockroach' protests have become a visible sign of public dissent against Modi’s government, reflecting growing anger over job scarcity, corruption, and a lack of government accountability.