NEW DELHI: Authorities closed six metro stations and imposed traffic restrictions across parts of India’s capital on Monday as opposition parties prepared to march to the Supreme Court over controversial voter-list revisions that have triggered days of protests.
The demonstrations have intensified calls for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with opposition leaders accusing the Election Commission of overseeing a process that could unfairly affect voters and benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Election Commission has denied favouring any political party, while the BJP has accused its opponents of undermining public confidence in India’s democratic institutions.
Police announced the closure of six metro stations for security reasons and introduced traffic diversions across more than 20 stretches of the city, disrupting movement in central Delhi as security personnel remained on alert.
Thousands of protesters were detained over the weekend, including leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), as authorities moved to prevent demonstrators from marching through heavily secured areas.
Congress Takes ‘Vote Theft’ Fight to Supreme Court
The main opposition Congress party announced plans to march to the Supreme Court and submit a memorandum to the Chief Justice, demanding an end to what it calls “vote theft” and Kumar’s resignation.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called on young people, opposition parties and civil society groups to join the march, saying those committed to democracy and the Indian Constitution should stand together.
However, Chief Justice Surya Kant declined a meeting request from Gandhi and the Congress delegation, according to a Congress source. In an email, the Chief Justice reportedly advised them to approach the court through established legal procedures because the issue was already under judicial consideration.
The response means the opposition’s concerns will have to be pursued through the appropriate legal process rather than a direct meeting with the Chief Justice.
How 130 Million Voter Names Became a Flashpoint
The controversy centres on a voter-list verification exercise that began last year and has resulted in approximately 130 million names being removed from electoral rolls, according to Election Commission data.
The deleted entries include around 28 million people recorded as deceased, 63 million who had relocated and 30 million who could not be traced.
The scale of the deletions has fuelled concerns among opposition parties about whether eligible voters could be excluded from the electoral process.
Opposition leaders have also alleged that Muslim voters and other minorities, who are less likely to support the ruling Hindu nationalist BJP, could be disproportionately affected. Both the Election Commission and the BJP have rejected allegations of political bias.
The poll panel maintains that voters whose names were wrongly removed can re-enrol.
Youth Movement Adds Pressure on Modi Government
The protests have also drawn support from the CJP-backed youth movement, which has mobilised demonstrations in recent months over issues including government school infrastructure and employment.
The movement has emerged as a significant political challenge to Modi and his BJP, who have been in power since 2014.
The latest unrest gained momentum after The Indian Express reported last month that two deputy election commissioners had raised internal concerns about voter-list revisions, registration procedures and digital systems.
Separately, the CJP said its leaders would meet Delhi Police to demand a date for a peaceful demonstration. The group warned that it could announce another protest if authorities failed to provide a date within 24 hours.
With the opposition pressing for accountability, the Election Commission defending its process and security restrictions disrupting the capital, the dispute over voter registration has become a wider confrontation over electoral transparency and democratic representation in India.
