New Delhi/Mumbai: Protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar were held in Delhi, Mumbai and other parts of India on Friday, with opposition parties, student organisations and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) accusing the Election Commission of irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls.
In Delhi, more than 700 protesters were detained by police at Jantar Mantar and nearby areas, according to police. Those detained included leaders and workers from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), as well as members of AISA, SFI, NSUI and other student and youth organisations.
The protesters were demanding Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged deletion of voters.
The allegations have been disputed by the Election Commission and the government. The protests and detentions followed heightened security measures in central Delhi, including restrictions around Jantar Mantar and several metro stations.
Over 700 detained in Delhi
AAP leaders Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjeev Jha were among those detained, along with AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and activists and leaders from several student and Left organisations.
Protesters from AISA, SFI, NSUI and other organisations attempted to reach Jantar Mantar from different parts of central Delhi but were stopped by police.
AAP leaders accused the police of preventing a peaceful demonstration, while police said more than 700 people were detained from Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas.
AAP's Bharadwaj was detained after protesting against the police action. Sanjay Singh was stopped while travelling towards the protest and later said he was holding a separate protest at the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Parliament premises.
The demonstrations also drew Left leaders and student activists, including Brinda Karat, Aishe Ghosh, Neha Bora and Yogendra Yadav.
CJP protest in Delhi from October 10
In Mumbai, the CJP held a mobilisation at Shivaji Park demanding Kumar's resignation.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said that if Kumar did not step down, the organisation would take its campaign to Delhi and hold another protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10.
If Gyanesh Kumar doesn’t resign, cockroaches from across India will march to Delhi & protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10.
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) October 2, 2026
If Delhi Police tries to stop us, wherever they stop us will become our Jantar Mantar..
Ours will be a peaceful andolan. We will walk on the path shown…
Dipke described the proposed mobilisation as “Jantar Mantar 2.0” and called on supporters to march to Delhi. The CJP had earlier announced a nationwide campaign against Kumar over its allegations concerning electoral-roll revisions.
The CJP has demanded, among other measures, a halt to the SIR exercise, restoration of voter lists and changes to the legal framework governing the appointment of election commissioners.
Several political leaders and organisations also participated in or expressed support for protests against the Election Commission.
Rahul Gandhi backs student protests
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said students had exercised their constitutional right by protesting against what he described as “vote chori”.
He also said Kumar would leave office and criticised the system under which the CEC was appointed.
These were political statements made in the context of the protests and do not constitute findings by the Election Commission or a court.
In Delhi, Indian Youth Congress workers dressed as living ghosts took to the streets and marched to Jantar Mantar, raising slogans and displaying posters demanding accountability from Kumar.
Led by IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib, the protesters, some wearing masks bearing the faces of Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, described themselves as "living ghosts" who had allegedly been removed from voter rolls despite being alive.
Protests in Kolkata
The CPI(M)-led Left Front also held a demonstration in Kolkata demanding Kumar's removal and an immediate halt to the SIR exercise.
Leaders of the CPI(M), RSP, Forward Bloc and CPI participated in the rally, which called for the restoration of names that protesters alleged had been removed from electoral rolls.
CPI(M) West Bengal secretary Mohammed Salim said the issue represented a test for India's democratic system.
Protest erupted against Kumar after recent media reports found that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months to decisions and orders related to the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls, some of which they said were issued without their knowledge.
The Election Commission later clarified that the three-member commission took all decisions, including those relating to the SIR, unanimously.
