World · India Bureau
Opposition launches nationwide protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner's resignation
Demonstrations erupted across major Indian cities on Gandhi Jayanti, with opposition parties and student groups calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to step down. Police detained over 1,100 protesters in Delhi alone as authorities imposed security measures across the capital.
LSN India ·
Large-scale protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar took place in multiple cities across India on Wednesday, marking a significant show of opposition force on Gandhi Jayanti. The demonstrations, which saw participation from Aam Aadmi Party leaders and various student organizations, reflected growing discontent over the functioning of the election commission.
In Delhi, authorities detained approximately 1,100 protesters during the day-long agitation. Police implemented heightened security measures across the capital, erecting barricades at multiple locations to manage crowd movement and prevent disruptions. The demonstration also impacted public transport, with entry and exit gates at 12 Delhi Metro stations remaining closed throughout the day to regulate commuter flow.
Similar protests were reported from Mumbai and several other metropolitan centers, indicating the nationwide nature of the opposition's campaign. The timing of the demonstrations on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi underscored the opposition's symbolic assertion of democratic participation and dissent.
The protests represent one of the more organized shows of opposition strength in recent months, bringing together disparate groups under a common demand. However, authorities maintained that the detentions were precautionary measures to ensure public order and prevent any potential law and order issues during the demonstrations.