India news: Delhi protesters turn up heat on election chief, police tightens security
What you need to know
- Large number of protesters gather in New Delhi's Jantar Mantar, demand election Chief's resignation
- Police tighten security, say protest permission not granted
Here are the top headlines from India on Friday, October 2:
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Skip next section How does this related to Narendra Modi's BJP?October 2, 2026
How does this related to Narendra Modi's BJP?
The protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar are partially being viewed as renewed pressure on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.
The reason behind it may not be immediately obvious since the Election Commission of India (ECI) is meant to be an independent body. But this might help:
Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, along with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, comprise the Election Commission of India.
They are responsible for overseeing elections and related projects such as the SIR exercise, which is meant to remove redundancies in India's electoral rolls.
Opposition leaders and critics have argued that those struck off in the exercise include a heavy proportion of minority voters and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP is using it as a tool to secure future electoral wins. They have also accused ECI chief Kumar of doing the central government's bidding even though the institute is meant to maintain its independence.
The BJP has dismissed those claims, arguing that those removed largely involve dead voters and illegal infiltrators, thereby protecting India's democracy.
Moreover, a 2023 law introduced by the Modi government changed the way the ECI Chief was appointed, giving the government a greater say. Critics have questioned Kumar's credibility and ability to stay independent given the government's heavy role in his appointment.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NcGS
Skip next section Why are people protesting?October 2, 2026
Why are people protesting?
Pressure on Kumar intensified in September after the Indian Express newspaper reported that two of the three election commissioners had formally raised concerns over aspects of the Special Intensive Revisions (SIR) at least 14 times over the past 10 months.
The objections relate to new voter registrations, deletion and restoration of voters in the rolls, filing of appeals against orders restoring voters in the SIR process and the custody and security of the entire electoral roll itself, the report said.
In one of the objections, Sandhu complained that the Election Commission acted against the written advice of two commissioners and claimed its action was "unauthorized and illegal."
The Election Commission had dismissed concerns of an internal rift, saying differing views were a "normal" part of deliberations and that all its actions were lawful.
Over 130 million Indian voters have been struck off the draft voters list across 30 states and union territories, the Indian Express report said, putting the ECI in the middle of a national debate over who votes and who doesn't.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NcGE
Skip next section Protesters gather in Jantar Mantar to demand Gyanesh Kumar's resignation amid heavy securityOctober 2, 2026
Protesters gather in Jantar Mantar to demand Gyanesh Kumar's resignation amid heavy security
Thousands of protesters, activists, opposition members and student bodies are expected to gather in central Delhi's iconic Jantar Mantar grounds today to demand the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest is the latest escalation in growing scrutiny of the poll-governing body of the largest democracy in the world — long regarded as one of the country's most trusted independent institutions.
Political pressure group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) will not be demonstrating in New Delhi today, according to a clarification posted on X earlier this week.
The group is, however, scheduled to hold a rally against Kumar in Mumbai on Friday, and plans to take the demonstrations nationwide in the coming days.
Visuals coming out of central Delhi showed heavy police and security deployment. Several entry points to the grounds have been barricaded, and authorities have imposed a prohibitory order under Indian law, according to news agency ANI.
Under this order, public meetings, assemblies of five or more people, processions, sloganeering, demonstrations and making speeches without permission are prohibited.
Incidentally, today is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, informally known as the "father of the nation." Gandhi is known for his non violent demonstrations, marches and hunger strikes, contributing to British India's freedom movement against colonial rule and ultimately leading to India's independence in 1947.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NcG6
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage!October 2, 2026
Welcome to our coverage!
Hello, and welcome to DW's India blog!
This is Mahima from Studio Delhi, where the thermometer is beginning to dip with every passing day.
But the heat is still on in the national capital, with protesters gathering at the iconic Jantar Mantar grounds in central Delhi. These are the same grounds which acted as the base for the Cockroach movement a few months ago, leading to the ouster of India's then education minister.
Now, the Chief of India's Election Commission is under fire with protesters demanding his resignation over his role in a controversial revision of electoral rolls which reportedly led to deletion of over 130 million voters across 30 states and union territories.
Authorities have beefed up security in the area, and several metro stations have been shut to limit public access.
DW has multiple reporters on the ground to bring you the latest.
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