Thousands march in India’s capital to demand resignation of election chief over alleged misconduct

Thousands of protesters marched in New Delhi on Monday demanding the resignation of India’s election chief over alleged misconduct during a voter roll revision, in the latest showdown with authorities in the heavily fortified capital.

The revision of voter rolls has resulted in more than 133 million names being removed from electoral lists, according to media reports. Critics say the measure has disproportionately affected minorities, particularly Muslims, but election authorities claim the move was intended to eliminate duplicate, deceased and fraudulent entries.

Opposition parties and supporters of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party protest movement have taken to the streets in recent days, defying a strict security clampdown to demand a halt to the revision exercise and the resignation of the chief election commissioner.

“You can see how big the crowd is already,” demonstrator Abhay Aryan, 28, told AFP as the crowd marched towards the Supreme Court, chanting slogans and waving placards.

“The government has to listen to the voice of the people.”

Critics say the large-scale revision of electoral lists could benefit Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Election Commission of India, which oversees the voting process in the world’s most populous nation, has denied wrongdoing.

A protester who gave his name as Mehvaish said he could no longer “tolerate the injustices” meted out by Modi’s government.