Politics · Singapore Bureau
Indian opposition leaders held in protest over electoral commission
Police detained senior opposition lawmakers including Rahul Gandhi during demonstrations demanding the resignation of India's election chief. The protests centre on disputed changes to voter registration processes.
LSN Singapore ·
Senior members of India's opposition Congress party, including party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, were taken into custody on Wednesday during protests near the office of the Election Commission of India in New Delhi.
The detentions marked the second round of apprehensions in recent days as opposition figures intensify pressure on the electoral authority's leadership. Police said the lawmakers were held at a local station before being released later in the day.
Opposition protesters have called for the resignation of the Election Commission chief, citing what they characterise as problematic revisions to voter registration lists. The opposition has raised concerns that the changes could disenfranchise eligible voters ahead of upcoming electoral contests.
The Election Commission has not publicly addressed the specific allegations regarding voter list modifications. The standoff reflects broader tensions between India's opposition and the government-aligned electoral authority over electoral procedures and transparency.
The series of detentions underscores the intensity of political opposition to the electoral commission's recent decisions, with lawmakers willing to risk arrest to press their demands for institutional accountability.