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Protests Erupt Over Deletion of 133 Million Voters

By Drooid · Oct 18, 2026, 2:50 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Gyanesh Kumar Faces Protest

India’s chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar faces protests over removal of more than 133 million voters.
Special Intensive Revision has deleted over 133 million names from India’s electoral rolls since last year.
In West Bengal, more than 9.1 million voters—over 10% of the electorate—were removed by April 2026.
U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal condemned the deletions, likening them to U.S. voting-rights challenges.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was released on Saturday after agreeing to undisclosed conditions.

Summary

Amit Shah Defends EC

Police invoked Section 163 of criminal procedure law to block Connaught Place protest.
Dipke was ordered to appear before a Special Executive Magistrate court in Mandir Marg at 12 p.m. (630 UTC).
Police deployed 200-300 officers, including about 50 female officers.
Home Minister Amit Shah defended Election Commission’s independence and accused opposition of spreading falsehoods about voter-list revisions.
The Cockroach Janta Party started as a May campaign after a chief justice called unemployed youth ‘cockroaches’.

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Gyanesh Kumar Faces Protest

India’s chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar faces protests over removal of more than 133 million voters.
Special Intensive Revision has deleted over 133 million names from India’s electoral rolls since last year.
In West Bengal, more than 9.1 million voters—over 10% of the electorate—were removed by April 2026.
U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal condemned the deletions, likening them to U.S. voting-rights challenges.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was released on Saturday after agreeing to undisclosed conditions.

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