Indian opposition intensifies calls for election chief's ouster

NEW DELHI — Large-scale protests calling for the removal of India's top election official spread across the country on Sunday, with demonstrations in New Delhi and Mumbai drawing young activists and opposition party members. The coordinated demonstrations represent a significant escalation in pressure against Election Commission Chief Gyanesh Kumar, reflecting deepening discontent with his leadership of the constitutionally independent body.

Police presence remained heavy at protest sites, with authorities detaining demonstrators for the third consecutive day as demonstrations continued. The crackdown has not deterred protesters, who maintained pressure through the weekend despite law enforcement interventions.

The opposition parties have unified around calls for Kumar's resignation, signalling a broad political challenge to his tenure. The demonstrations underscore rising questions about the Election Commission's functioning and independence, issues that have gained prominence in Indian political discourse.

The scale and persistence of the protests suggest the controversy surrounding Kumar's leadership shows no signs of abating, with civil society and political opposition maintaining coordinated pressure for institutional change.