INDIA Bloc Protests Election Commission Over 13 Crore Deleted Voters
Opposition leaders and the INDIA bloc are protesting the Election Commission of India, demanding the restoration of 13 crore deleted voters and the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar.
The INDIA bloc and the Indian National Congress intensified nationwide protests on October 8, 2026, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition leaders allege that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which began in June 2025, resulted in the illegal deletion of 13 to 13.5 crore voters. MP Imran Masood claimed the number of removed names exceeds the total population of Bangladesh, while CPI(M) leader Falma Chauhan stated the process disproportionately affected women, Dalits, and tribal communities.
In New Delhi, the protests evolved into a three-day campaign including a visit to Raj Ghat. Rahul Gandhi alleged a criminal conspiracy involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to undermine voting rights. Tensions escalated as Delhi Police blocked and removed protesting MPs, including Gandhi, during a march. The Congress party observed a nationwide Black Day to condemn these detentions and the alleged mistreatment of leaders like Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Simultaneous demonstrations occurred in Shimla, where the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and CITU demanded an immediate halt to the SIR process. Protesters accused the Election Commission of India of being subservient to the government and using artificial intelligence to manipulate elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Election Commission have rejected all allegations of vote theft and electoral roll manipulation.
