Tight Security in Delhi Ahead of INDIA Alliance Rally
Police personnel equipped with batons, shields, and riot control vehicles have been deployed outside Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi as security measures were intensified ahead of a massive opposition rally scheduled for Sunday. Led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and top figures from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), the coalition plans to undertake a 1.5-kilometer march from Central Delhi to the venue to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Traffic authorities have issued advisories restricting vehicle movement and diverting key city routes in anticipation of hundreds of thousands of attendees.
The escalation follows near-daily protests organized by opposition parties, youth groups, and student organizations, including the Cockroach Janata Party, over controversies surrounding the ongoing voter list revision drive. A report published by The Indian Express revealed that two deputy chiefs of the Election Commission internally raised serious concerns regarding the registration process and digital systems. More than 130 million names have been removed from the electoral rolls, comprising roughly 28 million deceased, 63 million relocated, and 30 million untraceable voters, triggering widespread public backlash and intense scrutiny over the electoral administration.
Opposition parties allege that Muslim and minority voters, who traditionally do not support the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have been disproportionately affected by these massive deletions. In response, both the Election Commission and the BJP have denied the allegations, with the Commission maintaining that voters wrongfully excluded can re-apply to get their names back on the rolls. Analysts view the growing youth-led mobilization as one of the significant challenges facing PM Narendra Modi’s government since 2014, though its stability remains intact ahead of the 2029 general elections.
Sources: Reuters, The Indian Express
