India's opposition holds mega rally seeking election chief's resignation

Fonte da imagem, AFP via Getty Images Legenda da imagem, o líder da oposição Rahul Gandhi liderou o protesto de domingo.

• Publicado em 1 de novembro de 2026, 00:12 GMT.

Tens of thousands gathered in Delhi for a rally demanding the resignation of India's chief election commissioner over a controversial revision of voter lists.

Organised by the opposition INDIA bloc and led by Rahul Gandhi's Congress party, the protest drew many of the alliance's most prominent leaders in a show of strength against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

Manifestantes brandiram bandeiras e cantaram “Salve a votação, salve o país” e “Ladrão de voto, entregue o poder”.

It was the latest in a series of protests over electoral roll revision that the opposition says has removed eligible voters to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The BJP and the Election Commission deny the allegations.

As multidões reuniram-se no Ramlila Maidan, um amplo terreno no centro de Delhi conhecido por sediar grandes eventos políticos e culturais. Alguns protestantes cantaram e dançaram ao som de músicas patrióticas de Bollywood, enquanto outros esperavam sob um grande toldo nas cores da bandeira indiana para ouvir os líderes da oposição falarem.

Gandhi and several senior opposition leaders arrived at the venue in an open jeep, travelling through crowds of cheering supporters.

The event was also attended by Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, alongside leaders of regional parties such as Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Mehbooba Mufti, Supriya Sule and Tejashwi Yadav.

Addressing the crowds, Rahul Gandhi said those gathered had sent a message to Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Esta não é a voz de um único partido político ou de políticos. É a voz da juventude, das mulheres, dos agricultores e dos trabalhadores da Índia," ele disse.

We will not allow democracy to be destroyed in India. We will not allow the constitution to be destroyed.

Outros líderes da oposição ecoaram a crítica de Gandhi à Comissão Eleitoral. O presidente do Congresso, Kharge, disse que a aliança continuaria sua campanha até que Kumar renunciasse, enquanto Banerjee prometeu continuar lutando contra o que descreveu como ameaças à democracia.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi on Sunday, senior BJP leader and federal minister JP Nadda accused the opposition of trying to create unrest and destabilise the government under the guise of defending democracy.

He described the rally as a "calculated conspiracy to plunge the nation into anarchy - in the name of democracy.

Image source, ReutersImage caption, Tens of thousands of people gathered at the Ramlila Maidan.

No centro da disputa está um exercício conhecido como Revisão Especial Intensiva (SIR), que resultou na remoção de mais de 130 milhões de nomes dos registros eleitorais provisórios da Índia.

The Election Commission says the exercise is intended to remove duplicate registrations and the names of people who have died, moved away or are otherwise ineligible to vote.

Ele diz que eleitores elegíveis que foram excluídos indevidamente podem solicitar a restauração de seus nomes.

But opposition parties allege that the process is removing legitimate voters and could benefit the governing BJP in future elections.

A controvérsia se aprofundou em setembro quando o jornal The Indian Express relatou externamente que Kumar havia tomado decisões-chave sobre a revisão, apesar das repetidas objeções dos dois outros comissários eleitorais.

The poll panel said differences of opinion were normal in any institution and did not affect its functioning.

Sunday's rally followed weeks of protests over the voter-list revision, including demonstrations by student groups and the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

No mês passado, Gandhi liderou dezenas de milhares em uma marcha do Connaught Place, no centro de Delhi, até o Supremo Tribunal, exigindo a renúncia de Kumar.

The CJP also backed Sunday's rally but chose not to participate. Its founder Abhijeet Dipke said the group wanted to maintain its independence from established political parties.

Image caption, People from all age groups came for the event.

The event took place under strict conditions imposed by Delhi Police. According to local media reports, organisers were required to end the gathering by 5pm, install CCTV cameras at the venue and ensure that protesters did not march beyond the designated grounds.

As restrições surgiram em meio a tensões sobre o policiamento de manifestações na capital. Em 10 de outubro, vários líderes da CJP foram detidos durante protestos contra Kumar, enquanto repórteres da BBC testemunharam a polícia arrastando manifestantes e batendo alguns com bastões.

At Ramlila Maidan, however, the atmosphere was largely peaceful, with people of different ages and professions turning out to express their concerns about the integrity of India's elections.

We don't even know if this is a people's mandate or a stolen mandate," Isha, a development sector professional from Delhi, told the BBC.

Deepro Guha, advogado de Delhi, disse que estava preocupado com a forma como a revisão foi conduzida.

It's important because voting is the basis of democracy. If people's names are removed without any explanation, there is a problem," he said.

Fonte da imagem, Legenda do Congresso/XImage, A aliança da oposição realizou um impeachment simulado de CEC Kumar no sábado.

On Saturday, opposition leaders also staged a symbolic impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of undermining the electoral process.

As medidas foram puramente simbólicas e não tinham validade jurídica. Sob a lei indiana, o comissário-chefe das eleições só pode ser removido por meio de um processo parlamentar formal.

But the move was another show of unity by the INDIA bloc, an alliance of opposition parties formed in 2023 to to take on Modi's BJP.

Modi did not directly comment on the mock impeachment, but at public rallies on Friday and Saturday he accused opposition parties of trying to create chaos and undermining the dignity of the constitution.