India news: Elections 'rigged,' allege Rahul Gandhi and Cockroach party

Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• Both the opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and the Cockroach Party political movement have labelled India’s elections "rigged"
• Uproar over the Election Commission of India's (ECI) handling of the voter-list revision remains in spotlight
• Gandhi and the CJP have claimed voter-roll revision is being used to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP

Here are some of the major headlines from India on Friday, September 25: 

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Skip next section Cockroach party urges opposition to boycott India's 'rigged' elections

September 25, 2026

Cockroach party urges opposition to boycott India's 'rigged' elections

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday called on India's opposition parties to stop participating in India's "rigged" elections, as it threatened to launch protests across the country on October 2.

"For opposition: Yes, elections are being rigged," Dipke posted on social media, arguing that if the opposition continues to contest such elections, it legitimizes them and "maintain the illusion that they are free and fair."

"If elections are being rigged, it should matter regardless of the state or which party is affected," Dipke wrote, calling on opposition parties to prioritize democracy over political survival. "You cannot keep saying the game is rigged while continuing to play it. Your participation is the only thing that gives these rigged elections legitimacy."

On Thursday, the CJP accused India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of undermining the country's democracy and demanded his resignation within 48 hours.

CJP alleged that the Election Commission's voter-roll revision is being used to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The CJP's demands include:

• Criminal proceedings against Kumar
• All upcoming elections put on hold, freeze Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
• Repeal the 2023 law on the appointment of the Election Commissioners of India

Meanwhile, two petitions were filed in the Bombay High Court on Thursday challenging the SIR process in Maharashtra.

Education minister concedes to 'Cockroach' demands, resigns

https://p.dw.com/p/5NG2t

Skip next section Rahul Gandhi accuses Modi, Shah of being behind election 'rigging'

September 25, 2026

Rahul Gandhi accuses Modi, Shah of being behind election 'rigging'

Both the opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and the Cockroach Party political movement called India’s elections "rigged," as the uproar over the Election Commission of India's (ECI) handling of the voter-list revision shows no sign of abating.

On Thursday, Congress Party leader Gandhi alleged that elections in India were being "rigged," and called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. It followed a report by Indian Express on objections raised by two election commissioners to decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.

The report said that Kumar's fellow Election Commissioners had raised at least 14 objections over 10 months to decisions on voter registrations and electoral data. In one instance, one of the complaints said the ECI acted against the written advice of two commissioners and claimed its action was "unauthorized and illegal."

The three commissioners are overseeing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which the ECI says aims to remove deceased, relocated and duplicate voters and prevent the inclusion of "foreign illegal immigrants." Critics say the exercise has gone beyond that remit and removed millions of eligible voters, which has benefitted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"If the vote has been destroyed, then our Constitution has been destroyed. It no longer has power," Gandhi said during a press conference.

Gandhi also alleged that Kumar was elevated to Election Commission head by Prime Minster Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, despite his opposition to the appointment. He went on to accuse them of being "at the top of the conspiracy," and called for them to be investigated.

Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi defended the ECI, saying on Thursday that the SIR process was legally sound and that the commission’s decisions were based on majority consensus. He said the law empowers the ECI to conduct an SIR at its discretion.

https://p.dw.com/p/5NFra

Skip next section Welcome to our coverage

September 25, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Hello!

This is Shakeel from DW's New Delhi Studio bringing you the latest updates from across India.

The furor over the Indian Express investigation that thrust the Election Commission of India (ECI) into the spotlight over its handling of the voter-list revision shows no sign of dying down. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and satirical political movement, the Cockroach Party, have both described India's elections as "rigged." The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, has rallied in support of the ECI.

Staying with the ECI, it turns out there are citizens who are more equal than others, as the voter-list revision now sees some names marked VIP — Very Important Person. The list is said to include elected representatives, judges, holders of constitutional or other declared offices, and prominent figures from the arts and culture.

Meanwhile, another day and another case of alleged sexual assault in public, a video has surfaced purportedly showing a minor girl being harassed in Bihar again.