Delhi Protests Over Election Chief Gyanesh Kumar Enter Day 3 With 500 Detained

Protests demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar escalated across India on October 4, with police detaining nearly 500 people in Delhi alone. The demonstrations, now in their third day, centre on alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision of electoral rolls. On October 5, the Supreme Court issued notice to the Election Commission and Centre, seeking responses within a week on how decisions were made without approval of all Election Commissioners.

Heavy police response in Delhi halts march

On Sunday, October 4, hundreds of protesters attempted to march from Andhra Bhavan towards Jantar Mantar in central Delhi. Police deployed heavy barricades and stopped the march at Shangri-La intersection, roughly 1.5 kilometres from the starting point. Officers detained at least 500 people, though Delhi Police officially recorded 110 detentions. Videos showed protesters climbing barricades, breaking bus windows, and jumping from moving detention vehicles. Around 12-15 police personnel sustained injuries during the clashes.

Woman journalist among those detained

A woman journalist who had alleged sexual harassment and manhandling by a police officer while covering Saturday’s protest returned to the march on Sunday and was again detained. She was among hundreds transported in 10-15 buses away from the protest site. Police personnel were documented dragging and manhandling detainees, including pulling women protesters by their legs into detention vehicles. The journalist had filed a complaint against the officer the previous day.

Opposition parties join nationwide demonstrations

Protests spread beyond Delhi to major cities including Mumbai. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray led a march in Mumbai drawing nearly 6,000 participants. Congress and Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar leaders also participated. The demonstrations began on October 2 during Gandhi Jayanti and demand both the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and scrapping of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls.

Supreme Court examines Election Commission decision-making process

On October 5, the Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant issued notice to the Election Commission and Centre seeking responses within a week. The court took note of submissions challenging how CEC Gyanesh Kumar made decisions allegedly without approval of the two other Election Commissioners. The Bench stated that Election Commission decisions must be either unanimous or by majority vote.

Final Thoughts

The protests reflect deep concerns over electoral roll revision procedures and decision-making at India’s Election Commission. With the Supreme Court now examining the matter, the outcome could reshape how the poll panel operates and whether CEC Gyanesh Kumar retains his position.

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