India's opposition set to hold mega rally seeking election chief's resignation

Tens of thousands of people are set to converge on India's bustling capital, Delhi, for a large-scale opposition rally, demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and advocating for electoral reforms. Organized by the main opposition Congress party, the gathering at the iconic Ramlila Maidan grounds could see a million attendees, according to leaders.

Several prominent Congress-led INDIA alliance figures and the influential Gen Z-backed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have pledged their support. The protest coincides with mounting criticism of a voter-list revision project that has struck 130 million names from the draft rolls nationwide. The Election Commission of India (ECI) defends the initiative as a means to refresh the voter list by eliminating deceased or relocated individuals, but opposition parties argue it could favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by excluding eligible voters.

Both the BJP and ECI have dismissed these claims. The controversy deepened in September when The Indian Express reported that the CEC, Gyanesh Kumar, made crucial decisions regarding the exercise without consulting his fellow commissioners, who had raised objections multiple times. The ECI maintains that varied opinions are common in any institution and do not hinder its operations.

Nevertheless, opposition parties, CJP, and student groups have staged multiple protests in Delhi and other Indian cities. Last month, Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition and MP, led thousands of protesters from Connaught Place to the Supreme Court, urging the CEC's resignation. The march was merely a prelude, with Gandhi asserting that Sunday's rally will be far larger.

In his address, Gandhi condemned the "demolition of Indian democracy" and called for unity among all who oppose the disenfranchisement of millions. Delhi police have granted permission for the rally but have attached several conditions, including a 5pm deadline, mandatory CCTV installation, and no marches beyond the designated protest site.

The event has sparked division among traders in Chandni Chowk, a historic and busy market near Ramlila Maidan, with some expressing concern over potential business losses during Diwali, while others back Gandhi and criticize the BJP for disrupting a market march on Thursday. Police and paramilitary forces are massed across Delhi, including near the rally site, to ensure order.

The opposition, having prepared for days, accuses the government of attempting to deter attendance. Rahul Gandhi has urged people to arrive in large numbers, dismissing police concerns. Concerns over police tactics have been exacerbated by a previous CJP-led protest, where thousands of security personnel were deployed, parts of the city were shut down, and demonstrators were beaten and dragged by officers.