Several opposition legislators, including prominent leader Rahul Gandhi, were briefly arrested by police in New Delhi on Tuesday while participating in a protest march. The demonstration aimed to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of irregularities in the revision of voter lists. Gandhi was released shortly after his detention.

The march, which took place in the heart of the Indian capital, is the latest in a series of protests against the Election Commission. Opposition parties, student groups, and a youth movement known as the “Cockroach” movement have been organizing near-daily demonstrations for the past week. They accuse the polling body, led by Kumar, of manipulating voter registrations to favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

During the approximately 1km march from parliament to the Election Commission headquarters, lawmakers carried placards, waved the national flag, and chanted slogans calling for Kumar’s resignation. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the election commission operates as a “puppet in the hands of the government.” In response, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra accused opposition leaders of attempting to “establish anarchy” and attack institutions.

The controversy centers on India’s Special Intensive Revision of voter lists, a process that began last year and has expanded nationwide. Critics argue that the required documentation is complex and difficult to obtain, potentially disenfranchising millions of eligible voters. Election Commission data indicates that voter rolls could decrease by up to 30 percent in certain areas.

The Election Commission maintains that the revision process is intended to enhance electoral integrity by removing duplicate, deceased, or ineligible entries. Following concerns raised by critics, the commission issued a directive on Friday instructing officials to register eligible voters who may have been inadvertently omitted from the rolls.

This protest highlights growing political tensions surrounding electoral processes in India. The opposition’s accusations of bias strike at the heart of the country’s democratic institutions, while the ruling party defends the integrity of the commission’s actions.

Previous related protests have seen the “Cockroach Janta Party” also headline anti-establishment demonstrations, focusing on the alleged improper removal of voters from electoral rolls. The ongoing demonstrations suggest a deepening public and political scrutiny of electoral management in India.

Key questions remain regarding the transparency and accessibility of the voter list revision process, and the Election Commission's response to the widespread criticism. The opposition's demand for the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation signals a significant challenge to the current electoral administration.