130 million people were removed from the voter rolls. The "Cockroaches" sprung into action

Since the beginning of the month, demonstrations organized by opposition parties and supporters of the "Cockroaches" youth movement have been taking place almost every day in the capital of India. Protesters accuse Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of changing the voter lists to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Indian People's Party (BJP).

The verification of the censuses, started in 2025, resulted in the removal of approximately 130 million people. According to the electoral commission, they included 28 million people who died, 63 million people who changed their place of residence and 30 million who could not be found.

The opposition claims that the changes have particularly affected Muslims and other minorities who are less likely to support the BJP. The commission and the ruling party deny the allegations, assuring that voters who were wrongly removed can register again.

"Stealing Votes"

Over the weekend, police detained thousands of protesters, including leaders of the Cockroach People's Party (CJP), and blocked central Delhi. On Monday, the main opposition party, the Indian National Congress (INC), announced a march to the Supreme Court to deliver a memorandum on the alleged "vote theft" case and demand Kumar's resignation.

Chief Justice Surya Kant, however, refused to meet the INC delegation, noting that the case was already under consideration by the court. In turn, the CJP announced further protests if the police do not set a date for a peaceful demonstration within 24 hours.

The current wave of protests was triggered by reports from the Indian Express daily, according to which two of Kumar's deputies raised concerns about the verification of voter lists and registration procedures. CJP, previously protesting, among others, against unemployment and the poor condition of public schools, has become one of the biggest challenges for Modi during his 12 years in power.