NEW DELHI— Hundreds of supporters of India’s “Cockroach” youth movement held new protests in the country’s financial hub of Mumbai on Friday to demand the resignation of the chief election commissioner over the revision of voter lists.
The movement, which began as an online campaign and now calls itself the Cockroach Janata Party, organized street protests that forced India’s education minister to resign in July. The Mumbai rally is meant to kick off a new period of demonstrations nationwide.
Separately, police prevented student and civil society groups from gathering Friday at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in New Delhi, to also demand the commissioner’s resignation. Police detained dozens of protesters and some opposition leaders heading to the site, which had been barricaded off.
The protests add to mounting pressure on India’s Election Commission, which oversees polls across the country. Critics and opposition parties accuse it of altering voter registrations to give an advantage to the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both the commission and the government deny any wrongdoing.
India’s election commission faces internal dissent
The Indian Express newspaper last month reported that two of the three election commissioners had formally objected to several decisions involving voter list revisions, registration procedures and the commission’s digital systems.
According to the report, the two commissioners questioned the legality of some of the decisions, but Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar disregarded their objections. Indian law requires the three-member Election Commission to make decisions by majority vote.
The commission disputed the report, saying it was based on “differing views and deliberations” among the commissioners rather than formal written objections.
Voter list revisions could remove millions of names
India’s voter list revisions began last year in the eastern state of Bihar ahead of state elections, and have since expanded to most of the country’s states and federally administered territories.
Known as Special Intensive Revision, the revisions have drawn criticism over the documents required to establish voters’ eligibility. Critics say the requirements have been confusing and difficult for many voters to meet, potentially leaving millions off the registration lists and unable to vote.
Election Commission data shows voter lists in some regions could shrink by as much as 30 per cent.
The commission says the objective is to remove duplicate and ineligible entries while ensuring eligible voters remain on the lists. Opposition parties and activists say it risks excluding legitimate voters. They also accuse the chief commissioner, Kumar, of political bias and allege the revisions benefit Modi’s party.
The Election Commission and Modi’s party have rejected the allegations.
The ‘Cockroach’ movement is expanding its political focus
The youth movement, which emerged earlier this year out of anger over high unemployment among young people and leaked examination papers, has grown into a political force.
Led by Abhijeet Dipke, it rose to national prominence after organizing mass protests over examination paper leaks. The demonstrations culminated in the resignation of the education minister, a significant political setback for Modi’s government.
The movement has since sought to take up other issues beyond education, including government accountability and democratic institutions.
Sheikh Saaliq, The Associated Press
