Protests in Delhi spread to several Indian cities

Protests against India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar have spread from New Delhi to several cities, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Patna, with demonstrators demanding his resignation over alleged irregularities in voter-list revisions.

The protests, led by youth groups, student organisations and opposition parties, centre on a nationwide exercise that removed millions of names from electoral rolls. Critics allege the revisions could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

On Saturday, Indian authorities detained hundreds of protesters in Delhi and imposed extensive security restrictions to prevent a major rally at Jantar Mantar.

Police and paramilitary forces were deployed across the capital, while mobile internet services and access to several metro stations were restricted.

The Election Commission and the BJP have denied allegations of wrongdoing, saying the voter-list revision was part of a verification process.

The demonstrations have intensified political tensions ahead of several state elections scheduled for early 2027.