Protests in New Delhi, Six Metro Stations Closed and Traffic Restrictions Imposed

Authorities in India’s capital, New Delhi, closed six metro stations on Monday amid fears of protests against the revision of electoral rolls. Traffic restrictions were also imposed on more than 20 roads and routes, with alternative arrangements made to manage congestion. The developments came after opposition parties announced plans to march to the Supreme Court over alleged irregularities in voter lists. Protests have been continuing in New Delhi for several days, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition parties and supporters of the youth movement known as the “Cockroach” allege that changes to electoral rolls could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The revision of electoral rolls began last year, during which more than 130 million names were removed. This figure exceeds Japan’s total population. The deleted entries included deceased individuals, voters who had moved elsewhere, and people whose whereabouts could not be established. The Election Commission of India has rejected allegations of political bias or favouritism, saying that voters removed from the lists by mistake can register again. The BJP, meanwhile, has accused the opposition of unnecessarily questioning a legitimate electoral process and undermining democracy.

Police detained thousands of people during protests in New Delhi on Saturday and Sunday. Those taken into custody included leaders of the “Cockroach Janta Party.” Supporters of the youth movement had planned to march against changes to the electoral rolls, but the deployment of thousands of security personnel restricted movement in central New Delhi. Security measures remained tight on Monday. In addition to closing six metro stations for security reasons, authorities diverted traffic at more than 20 locations.

India’s main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, announced that it would march to the Supreme Court and submit a memorandum to the Chief Justice. The party is demanding an end to what it calls “vote theft” in the electoral process and is calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a post on the social media platform X that young people, all opposition parties, civil society organisations, and those who believe in democracy and the Indian Constitution would join him in the march.

According to a Congress source, Chief Justice Surya Kant rejected by email a request for a meeting with Rahul Gandhi and a Congress delegation. The Chief Justice reportedly maintained that, since the matter was already under judicial consideration, Congress leaders should follow the legal process rather than seek a meeting and present their grievances through court proceedings.  Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party announced that its leaders would meet New Delhi police officials to request a date for a peaceful protest. The party warned that it could call fresh demonstrations if a date was not provided within 24 hours.

According to Election Commission of India figures, approximately 130 million names were removed during the verification of voter lists. A breakdown of the commission’s data showed that around 28 million people had died, approximately 63 million had moved to other locations, and about 30 million could not be traced. These figures are based on the commission’s records concerning the reasons for removing names from the electoral rolls.  The controversy gained further attention last month when the Indian newspaper The Indian Express reported that two deputy election commissioners had internally raised several concerns regarding the revision of electoral rolls, voter registration procedures, and the digital system. The report intensified debate over the transparency of the electoral process, prompting the opposition to renew its demand for the chief election commissioner’s resignation.

Opposition parties allege that Muslims and other minority communities have been disproportionately affected by the removal of names from voter lists, arguing that these groups are considered less likely to vote for the BJP. Both the Election Commission of India and the BJP have rejected the allegation. The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party has gained prominence in recent months through protests over public issues, including facilities in government schools and employment. The electoral-roll controversy has become a new focal point in the ongoing tensions between the movement and the Modi government. Meanwhile, the closure of metro stations, traffic restrictions, and the deployment of large numbers of police personnel disrupted travel across New Delhi. Security measures remained in place amid concerns that further protests could take place.