World

Protests Erupt in Delhi and Mumbai Demanding Resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Demonstrators gather in both cities to call for accountability within the Election Commission, leading to detentions and internet restrictions.

2 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

AI-generatedWritten by an AI system, editorially responsible — how we work

Archive photo: Protests Erupt in Delhi and Mumbai Demanding Resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar — Archive photoPhoto: Abishek · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

In Delhi and Mumbai, large-scale protests were held demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protests in Delhi took place at Jantar Mantar, where demonstrators expressed their dissatisfaction regarding the Election Commission's handling of electoral rolls and the SIR (Systematic Voter Registration) exercise that has reportedly removed millions of inactive voters from the list. Rahul Gandhi joined the protests, voicing the call for Kumar's resignation.

According to reports, Delhi Police detained over 700 protesters during the demonstrations, including former Chief Minister Atishi. The detentions were part of a broader crackdown on the protests, with police stationed at key locations to maintain order. Many of those who gathered at Jantar Mantar were members of various organizations, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M).

Neha Bora from the All India Students' Association (AISA) emphasized the protests as a reflection of public demand for accountability. She described the spread of these sentiments as a

a notion echoed by multiple participants during the events in both cities.

In response to the escalating situation, authorities imposed restrictions on access to Jantar Mantar, including the closure of 12 Delhi Metro stations. These measures coincided with the national celebration of Gandhi Jayanti, adding to the traffic and logistical complications in central Delhi. Reports indicated heightened security across the area to manage the protests and prevent further escalation.

Earlier in the day, Saurabh Bhardwaj, an AAP leader, shared a statement from a police van after he and fellow AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha were detained. He called on supporters to join the protest despite the law enforcement presence. Concurrently, there were reports of an internet shutdown lasting 12 hours at Jantar Mantar, marking the second such incident in recent months.

In Mumbai, similar protests unfolded, where thousands gathered seeking Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Prominent figures, including actor Shabana Azmi and musician Vishal Dadlani, took part in the demonstrations. The calls for accountability from the Election Commission have intensified as concerns over electoral integrity gain traction among voters and civic groups.

This item was written by an AI system on the basis of the headlines and short teasers of the independently operating newsrooms named below. We disclose this under Art. 50(4), second subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act). Before publication we check origin and verifiability — anything that appears in only one place is not published — as well as language, substance and legally sensitive content. No separate substantive review of each individual item by a natural person takes place; we therefore do not rely on the exemption in Art. 50(4), second subparagraph, of the AI Act. Editorial responsibility for this publication rests with the person named in the imprint (§ 18 Abs. 2 MStV). Please report errors to [email protected] — we will correct or remove the item. Full reports are available from the sources listed.