Leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc continued their protests in Delhi on October 8, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged “vote theft,” according to reports. The demonstrations included a symbolic satyagraha in the capital, as opposition parties pressed their charge that the electoral process had been compromised.
According to reports, the protests drew participation from leaders across the opposition alliance, who accused the Election Commission of failing to act impartially. The demand for the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation has become the centrepiece of the campaign, with opposition figures arguing that public trust in the poll body must be restored.
The demonstrations disrupted traffic in parts of the capital, according to reports, as protesters gathered at key locations and security arrangements were tightened. Commuters in several areas faced delays while police managed crowds and diverted vehicles around the protest sites.
In a related development, the National Human Rights Commission issued a notice to Delhi Police over alleged sexual harassment of three women journalists during a protest on October 8, according to reports. The notice seeks an explanation from the police, adding a fresh dimension to the controversy surrounding the day’s events.
The alleged “vote theft” charge has fuelled a wider political confrontation between the opposition and the government in recent weeks. Opposition parties have used street protests, alongside their arguments in public forums, to keep the issue in focus, while the ruling side has dismissed the allegations.
According to reports, opposition leaders indicated that their agitation would continue until their demands are addressed. With the human rights panel now seized of the complaints by the women journalists, the protests have drawn scrutiny not only for their political message but also for how demonstrations in the capital are policed and how members of the media covering them are treated.
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