Opposition bloc rallies against Election Commission over voter roll row

The political standoff centers on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the recent Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Opposition leaders argue that the commission has abandoned its neutrality, pointing to internal dissent allegedly recorded by Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi regarding administrative anomalies in the electoral software. The INDIA bloc is scheduled to present these grievances to President Droupadi Murmu on Friday evening, formally requesting Kumar's resignation.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge escalated the rhetoric, labeling the government’s response—which includes the closure of Delhi metro stations and train cancellations—as a sign of deep-seated fear. Kharge asserted that internal warnings regarding the roll revisions were ignored repeatedly despite multiple letters sent to the commission. While the Election Commission maintains that 13.39 crore electors were flagged under standard categories for being absent, shifted, or deceased, the opposition remains unconvinced. As tensions rise, the government has increased security for Kumar, while authorities have detained thousands of political volunteers ahead of a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 10.