Why people across India are taking to the streets again

By  SHEIKH SAALIQ, NEW DELHI (AP) — Protests have spread across India in the past week as opposition parties and civil society groups demand the resignation of the country’s election chief over alleged manipulation of voter lists that has removed over 130 million people.

The campaign has been led in part by India’s “Cockroach” youth movement, with opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also emerging as a prominent face of the protest. The movement previously organized street protests that forced the education minister to resign in July.

Protesters are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an end to the removals. They say the effort could disenfranchise millions more voters and benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. The commission and government deny any wrongdoing.

Here’s what to know:

Voter list changes fueling the protests

India is the world’s largest democracy with hundreds of millions of people voting in national and state elections. The Election Commission plays a central role in determining voter eligibility and administering elections, making changes to electoral lists politically significant.

The dispute centers on a nationwide voter list review known as the Special Intensive Revision. It began last year in the eastern state of Bihar ahead of local elections and has since expanded to most of India’s states and federally administered territories.

Millions have appealed the removals.