Indian opposition parties stage new protest against the elections chief

India's opposition parties have called for the resignation of the country's election chief, staging fresh protests in the latest show of public dissent against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. The INDIA bloc, formed in 2023 to unseat Modi, mobilized thousands of demonstrators, some carrying musical instruments and waving flags, as they chanted slogans against the central government's policies.

The protest took place at Ramlila Maidan, a large public square in New Delhi, after police withdrew Jantar Mantar from the list of officially designated protest venues. The ongoing review of voter lists has removed over 130 million names, with critics alleging the exercise is politically motivated and threatens to disenfranchise millions, particularly minorities.

The Election Commission and Modi's administration deny the allegations, stating the revision aims to remove duplicate and ineligible entries. Human Rights Watch has called for an immediate halt to the voter roll revision process, warning it undermines the fairness of future Indian elections. The opposition has been demanding Kumar's resignation, with leaders like Rahul Gandhi and the Cockroach Youth Movement leading the charge.