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Protests against Indian Election Commission escalate

Updated 35 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-10-17 09:16 UTC → 2026-10-24 10:29 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists have escalated in Delhi and Maharashtra. Demonstrators, including members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), student organizations, and the ‘Cockroach’ youth movement, demand the Commissioner’s resignation, alleging that the removal of millions of names from voter rolls is designed to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In Delhi, authorities have implemented Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), prohibiting gatherings of five or more people. Following recommendations from a Ministry of Home Affairs committee, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued a standing order de-notifying Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site, relocating authorized demonstrations to Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground. Critics, including Congress leader Balmoor Venkat, have accused authorities of attempting to ‘suppress public voices’ and deprive citizens of their right to express grievances. Rahul Gandhi has also criticized the move, arguing that Jantar Mantar ‘belongs to the people.’ Recent escalations involving the Kakroch Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar led to the detention of over 2,000 individuals. On October 11, the Supreme Court of India intervened, issuing notices to the Central Government, Delhi Police, and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, cautioning against the ‘illegal detention of peaceful protesters’. Legal discrepancies have since emerged regarding the de-notification of Jantar Mantar. In the Supreme Court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated the decision was driven by a Union Home Ministry committee report rather than a judicial order. However, the Delhi Police informed the Delhi High Court that the de-notification followed the October 9 directive. This discrepancy is notable as the October 9 order concerned the regulation of metro stations and transport services rather than protest venues.

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