For a third day, thousands rallied in Mumbai and New Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar after reports said voter-roll revisions removed millions from electoral lists. Protesters argue the changes could favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP; the ECI and the BJP deny the accusations and say the revisions remove duplicates, deceased or ineligible entries. Police detained dozens in New Delhi and filed cases against some demonstrators, while opposition groups have planned further marches including a CJP rally on October 10, 2026.
Mass Protests Enter Third Day as Indians Demand Election Chief's Resignation
Police and security personnel detain a protester during a demonstration against India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi on October 3, 2026, to demand his resignation [Arun Sankar/AFP]
Thousands of young people and opposition supporters across India rallied for a third consecutive day to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar after reports said recent voter-roll revisions removed millions of names from electoral lists.
Widespread Demonstrations
Large crowds marched through Mumbai on Sunday, led by opposition figures Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray, waving Indian flags and repeatedly calling for Kumar to step down. Separate demonstrations continued in New Delhi, where protesters began assembling in the early evening and were met by police enforcement.
Arrests, Detentions And Legal Action
Authorities in the capital detained dozens of demonstrators over the past two days as part of efforts to prevent mass gatherings in central areas. Some detainees were later released, but police have registered cases against several protesters for allegedly breaching orders that ban large assemblies in parts of New Delhi.
“I just want to tell the ruling party this much … We are angry about how you are wielding that power. It's the people of this country who should decide who sits in power and who sits in opposition, not the election commission,” Raj Thackeray told the crowd in Mumbai.
Election Commission Response
The Election Commission of India (ECI) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have rejected allegations of politically motivated disenfranchisement. The ECI said the voter-roll revision is an administrative exercise to remove duplicate, deceased, or ineligible entries and to preserve electoral integrity. On Friday, the commission directed officials to register any eligible voters inadvertently omitted from the rolls.
What Comes Next
Kumar has not publicly answered calls for his resignation. Opposition parties have announced further action: an alliance plans a march to the Election Commission office on Tuesday to "save democracy," while the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has slated a large rally in New Delhi for October 10, 2026. CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke urged nationwide solidarity with protesters, calling the moment "now or never."
Context: The protests follow reports that revisions to electoral rolls removed large numbers of names. Protesters say the revisions could advantage Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP; both the ECI and the BJP deny any wrongdoing. The demonstrations and police response are ongoing as of early October 2026.
Help us improve.
