Opposition Protests Against Election Commission Chief Intensify in Delhi

Opposition leaders and civil society activists staged protests in central Delhi on 13 October 2026 calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Police detained several participants at Jantar Mantar, including Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms figures. Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to meet INDIA bloc MPs to discuss strategy. The Supreme Court registry earlier flagged multiple defects in a petition filed by Gandhi challenging aspects of the revision process, including missing pages and a shortfall in filing fees. More than 60 percent of the 3.3 million cases linked to the revision in Delhi have been disposed of, according to the Chief Electoral Officer.

The revision exercise has drawn criticism from opposition parties that allege it disproportionately affects certain communities and lacks adequate safeguards. The Election Commission has defended the process as a routine update required by law. Demonstrations have occurred in several cities; Delhi police closed metro stations and restricted traffic around the protest site on previous days. The current gathering followed those restrictions.

The immediate development is the continued public challenge to the electoral roll revision and the detention of protesters. Whether the Supreme Court lists the pending petitions for substantive hearing, and whether the Commission releases further data on the revision’s demographic impact, will shape the next phase of the dispute. For now, the record shows ongoing protests, police action, and procedural hurdles for the opposition petition.