Opposition parties led by the Congress staged nationwide protests on 28 September against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. They demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Demonstrations were held in Delhi, Jaipur, Srinagar, Hyderabad and other cities. In Delhi, police used barricades and water cannons as Youth Congress workers marched toward the Election Commission headquarters.

The Congress has alleged irregularities in the revision process and wants an independent review of decisions taken under Kumar. The party’s working committee meets in New Delhi on 29 September.

Left parties announced week-long protests from 26 September to 2 October, demanding Kumar’s removal and an immediate halt to the revision exercise.

The BJP rejected the allegations, accusing the opposition of blaming democratic institutions for electoral defeats. The Election Commission has maintained that its final decisions were taken unanimously. The INDIA bloc is scheduled to meet in New Delhi on 30 September to plan its next steps. The opposition says it will keep up the pressure on the poll body.