Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led the rally, the latest in a series of protests that have continued for more than a month over revisions to electoral rolls and the conduct of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Al Jazeera reported.
Opposition parties claim that the revision process removed more than 130 million names from voter lists, disproportionately affecting Muslims and other minority groups they consider less likely to support the BJP.
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The Election Commission has rejected allegations of political bias, saying voters whose names were wrongly removed can register again. The BJP, meanwhile, has accused opposition parties of undermining democratic institutions by challenging legitimate electoral procedures.
Authorities tightened security ahead of the demonstration and announced traffic diversions as protesters marched from central New Delhi towards the historic Ramlila Maidan grounds.
Hundreds of police officers, some carrying batons and shields, were deployed around the rally site, alongside riot-control vehicles. Demonstrators waved Indian and party flags as opposition leaders travelled in an open-top vehicle.
Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda dismissed the rally as a “carefully orchestrated drama,” accusing the opposition of using the issue to create political instability.
Opposition parties, student groups and the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party have organised near-daily demonstrations since late September, calling for Kumar to step down.
The protests began after two of Kumar’s deputies raised concerns about changes to voter lists, registration procedures and digital systems.
India’s next general election is scheduled for 2029. Analysts have described the growing protests and support for the opposition as one of the most serious political challenges Modi has faced since taking office in 2014.
