Thackerays demand Gyanesh Kumar’s scalp; Raj calls for ballot paper polls

On October 3, 2026, more than 500 individuals were detained during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi. The demonstrators, including AISA national president Neha Bora, activist Yogendra Yadav, and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, marched from Patel Chowk to Jantar Mantar to demand Kumar's resignation.

The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) organized a separate protest at India Gate, calling for transparency and accountability in the Electoral Commission and the protection of citizens' voting rights.

Political parties, student organizations, and civil society groups continued to protest Kumar's leadership following concerns over electoral roll revisions. Actor and activist Prakash Raj criticized the process, comparing it to the immersion of Ganesha idols and questioning the long wait times for voter appeals pending in tribunals. Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram echoed similar sentiments, stating that Kumar's resignation was inevitable and that the opposition would continue demonstrating until he stepped down.

The INDIA bloc parties announced a joint 'Save Democracy' rally in Jammu on October 7, urging Kumar's removal. They also planned to hold protest marches in various districts between October 4 and 8, highlighting the BJP's alleged 'vote chori' and raising concerns about the electoral process. Delhi Police allegedly mistreated female students and journalists during the protests, raising questions about their treatment of women.