Story perspectives

Police detain protesters as Election Commission cuts voter lists

By Drooid · Oct 2, 2026, 10:28 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Protesters Demand Resignation

Cockroach Janata Party protesters demanded chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign in Mumbai.
Police blocked gatherings at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and detained dozens of activists.
Kumar overruled two election commissioners who objected to the Special Intensive Revision.
Commission data show the revisions could cut voter lists by up to 30 percent.
The movement alleges Kumar’s bias benefits Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP, a claim both deny.

Summary

Delhi Police Ban

Delhi police invoked Section 163, banning gatherings over five people and prohibiting slogans.
Authorities shut down internet in Delhi and closed at least 11 metro stations near Jantar Mantar.
Election commissioners raised concerns about the Special Intensive Revision fourteen times in ten months.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi called for Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to be tried for treason.
Amnesty International documented police use of lethal weapons against protesters in the July 2026 demonstrations.

History

Historical Context

The Election Commission of India began a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in June 2025, starting with Bihar and demanding eleven specific documents—a practice reminiscent of the 1997 Assam revision that flagged 300,000 “D-voters.” By 28 February 2026 the roll cut 6.18 million names and put another 6 million under adjudication, leading Rahul Gandhi, the BJP and other opposition groups to challenge Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s actions in the Supreme Court.

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Protesters Demand Resignation

Cockroach Janata Party protesters demanded chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign in Mumbai.
Police blocked gatherings at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and detained dozens of activists.
Kumar overruled two election commissioners who objected to the Special Intensive Revision.
Commission data show the revisions could cut voter lists by up to 30 percent.
The movement alleges Kumar’s bias benefits Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP, a claim both deny.

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