Delhi Police Close Metro Stations Before Election Protest March

Authorities in New Delhi closed six metro stations and warned of traffic disruptions on Monday as opposition parties organized a march to the Supreme Court. This protest was against a controversial revision of voter lists that has led to unrest in the capital.

Opposition groups, along with supporters of the “cockroach” youth movement, have been protesting almost daily this month. They demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, claiming the voter list revision benefits Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The revision began last year and resulted in the deletion of over 130 million names from the voter lists during a verification exercise—more than Japan's population. Among those removed were 30 million untraceable individuals, 28 million deceased persons, and 63 million who had relocated.

Opposition parties allege that the deletions disproportionately affect Muslim voters and other minorities who are less likely to support the Hindu nationalist ruling party. Both the election panel and the BJP deny these allegations.

Over the weekend, police detained thousands of protesters in Delhi, including leaders from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), as they attempted to march in protest. Thousands of security personnel locked down central Delhi to prevent the protest.

The Election Commission has denied any bias, stating that wrongly deleted voters can re-enroll. The BJP accuses its rivals of trying to undermine democracy by questioning legitimate electoral processes.

Police stated the metro station closures were for "security reasons," with traffic restrictions and diversions planned at 20 locations.

The main opposition Congress party announced a march to the Supreme Court to submit a memorandum to the Chief Justice, demanding an end to what they term "vote theft" and Kumar’s resignation. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called for support from youth, opposition parties, civil society groups, and those who believe in democracy and the Indian Constitution.

Chief Justice Surya Kant declined to meet with Gandhi and the Congress delegation, suggesting they address the issue legally through the court, as it was already under judicial consideration.

Separately, the CJP stated it would meet with Delhi police to demand a date for a peaceful protest, threatening to announce a new call to action if no date is provided within 24 hours.

The youth movement, which has organized protests on various issues over recent months, including government school infrastructure and jobs, poses one of the most significant political challenges to Modi and the BJP during his 12 years in power. Protests intensified following a report by the Indian Express that Kumar’s deputies raised concerns about voter list revisions, registration procedures, and digital systems.