India opposition leaders briefly detained in election protest

India's opposition leader Rahul Gandhi faced brief detention by police while participating in a protest on Tuesday, aimed at compelling the Election Commission of India (ECI) to oust its chief. The demonstration, which commenced on Friday, sought the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, the ECI chief, alleging improprieties during a recent overhaul of voter rolls. Gandhi, a member of the Congress Party, was observed standing atop a police barricade and waving an Indian flag during the protest.

Opposition parties initiated their march from the parliament building towards the ECI headquarters in central Delhi, but were halted by a dense police presence. Certain politicians opted to remain seated on the street, awaiting the resolution of the situation. Protests against the ECI chief were initiated on Friday, with opposition politicians accusing the commission of being subservient to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Election Commission, however, has dismissed the accusations, asserting that the revision process aims to ensure the precision and integrity of electoral rolls. Gyanesh Kumar has not publicly addressed the allegations. Protesters displayed placards and signs highlighting claims of electoral manipulation. The Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, both opposition parties, led the protests in Mumbai, with participants rallying behind a "Save Democracy" banner and denouncing Modi.

This protest marks a new political challenge for Modi, who is in the midst of his third term and recently faced similar demonstrations that led to the resignation of his education minister over leaked exam papers. The discrepancies over voter lists and registration procedures have raised concerns about the ECI's impartiality. Carrying a banner that read "Save Democracy," lawmakers chanted slogans against Modi and demanded Kumar's resignation during their march from the parliament to the ECI headquarters.

Numerous security personnel, including paramilitary forces, were deployed in the vicinity, and several routes were closed off. Television footage displayed security personnel, some carrying batons, near the barricaded ECI office. Both Congress and other parties argue that the revised voter lists favor Modi and his party. While Kumar has not commented on the matter, the commission and Modi's BJP maintain their denial of the allegations.

The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear legal arguments seeking intervention in the accusations against the ECI's voter drive and the chief's conduct, stating they will address any decisions deemed unlawful.