Indian capital braces for second day of protests against poll chief

New Delhi is gearing up for a second day of youth protests on Sunday, as they demand the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar. The day before, a court ordered the release of Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, and two other senior leaders who were initially detained upon their arrival in Delhi. Dipke, along with activist Dhruv Rathee, was released on Sunday, with conditions not to breach peace for a year or participate in further protests, respectively.

Police detained over 2,000 individuals during Saturday's protest, leading to the lockdown of Delhi's city center. However, thousands of police and paramilitary personnel remained deployed across the city on Sunday, as metro stations reopened and mobile internet services were restored. Despite the efforts to maintain order, opposition parties and critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government have condemned the heavy-handed use of force against the protesters.

The protests aim to challenge the CEC over a controversial revision of voter lists, which critics claim unfairly favors Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP and the Commission have denied any manipulation, while opposition parties allege that Muslim voters and other minorities are disproportionately affected by the deletions.

The Cockroach Party, originating as an online satire, has evolved into a pressure group, calling for Kumar's resignation in what they refer to as "Season 2" of their protests. They demand electoral system reforms until their voices are heard.