India deploys 20,000 security personnel ahead of protests

Indian authorities have deployed more than 20,000 police and paramilitary personnel in New Delhi ahead of planned opposition protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in voter registration.

The demonstrations, scheduled for Saturday, follow growing criticism of the Election Commission of India’s special intensive revision of electoral rolls. The commission says the exercise aims to remove duplicate and ineligible voters. However, opposition parties argue that the process could exclude eligible voters and benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The controversy has triggered protests in several Indian cities, including New Delhi and Ahmedabad. Senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have joined demonstrations against the election commission’s actions. Gandhi was briefly detained during protests earlier this week.

Gandhi and other opposition leaders are also expected to meet President Droupadi Murmu on Friday to raise their concerns over the electoral process and demand accountability from the election commission’s leadership.

Authorities have tightened security across the capital ahead of the planned rallies. Yellow metal barricades have been installed along major roads, while access to Jantar Mantar, a designated protest location, has been restricted. Police have not authorised demonstrations at the site.

Security measures have also affected public transport. According to local media reports, Delhi Metro stations could temporarily close entry and exit gates at 57 stations from Friday night until the situation returns to normal on Saturday. Several incoming trains scheduled to arrive at two major railway stations in the capital have also reportedly been cancelled.

The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which emerged as a satirical political movement online in May, has called for mass mobilisation and a march towards Jantar Mantar. The group claims that police have detained some of its supporters ahead of the demonstration, although authorities have not responded to the allegations.

CJP activists have accused the Delhi Police of using intimidation to prevent protests. The movement’s leadership, however, has vowed to proceed with the planned demonstration despite the security restrictions.

The Election Commission has rejected allegations of wrongdoing and maintained that the revision of electoral rolls is intended to improve the accuracy of voter lists.

The dispute has intensified political tensions in India, with opposition parties demanding greater transparency in the electoral process and assurances that eligible citizens will retain their voting rights.