BENGALURU, India (AP) — Thousands of supporters of India’s youth “Cockroach” movement and several student groups demonstrated in the southern city of Bengaluru on Thursday, stepping up a nationwide campaign that is demanding the election chief’s resignation over a revision of voter lists that has removed over 130 million people from the rolls.
The demonstration in Bengaluru came a day after opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was briefly detained by police at a protest in New Delhi. Dramatic images of police dragging Gandhi into a vehicle spread widely on social media, adding momentum to the protests calling for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Click to Gallery
Indian influencer and activist Dhruv Rathee, second left, Indian actor Prakash Raj, fourth left, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, fifth left and other supporters join hands during a protest demanding the resignation of the country's election chief Gyanesh Kumar, in Bengaluru, India, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
A security person keeps vigil from the rooftop of a building as members of the student wing of India's Congress party and other protesters gather to start a march demanding the resignation of the country's election chief Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Members of the student wing of India's Congress party and other protesters gather to start a march demanding the resignation of the country's election chief Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Members of the student wing of India's Congress party and other protesters gather to start a march demanding the resignation of the country's election chief Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Indian influencer and activist Dhruv Rathee, second left, Indian actor Prakash Raj, fourth left, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, fifth left and other supporters join hands during a protest demanding the resignation of the country's election chief Gyanesh Kumar, in Bengaluru, India, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Gandhi’s Congress party has called for more protests in New Delhi later Thursday.
The nationwide voter list review, known as the Special Intensive Revision, has been carried out in most of India’s states and federally administered territories. More than 130 million names have been removed so far, a number larger than the populations of countries like Japan and Mexico. Millions of people have appealed the deletions.
The opposition says the removals have disproportionately affected voters who support them, while voters more likely to back Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party have been preserved or added to the lists. The Election Commission and the government reject the allegations, saying the revision is aimed at removing duplicate and ineligible entries.
Those whose names have been struck off the list can appeal, but getting back on the rolls can be difficult. Critics say the requirements are confusing and some people may not have required documents such as older government records.
The anger intensified last month following an investigation by the Indian Express newspaper that found two election commissioners had raised concerns about the process.
The campaign has been led in part by the “Cockroach” movement, which began as an online youth campaign in May and has since organized street protests across the country. Its earlier nationwide demonstrations, sit-ins and hunger strikes over exam paper leaks led to the resignation of Modi’s education minister in July.
Protesters are demanding Kumar’s resignation and an end to the removals, warning that they could disenfranchise millions more voters.
The rallies pose a political challenge to Modi midway through his third term, as opposition parties seek to turn growing anger into a broader national campaign. Opposition leader Gandhi is also emerging as a prominent face of the protest.
The “Cockroach” movement has called for more protests in New Delhi starting Saturday, with thousands expected to march to Jantar Mantar, the capital’s designated protest site. Police barricaded the area ahead of the demonstrations.
Saaliq reported from New Delhi.
A security person keeps vigil from the rooftop of a building as members of the student wing of India's Congress party and other protesters gather to start a march demanding the resignation of the country's election chief Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Members of the student wing of India's Congress party and other protesters gather to start a march demanding the resignation of the country's election chief Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Members of the student wing of India's Congress party and other protesters gather to start a march demanding the resignation of the country's election chief Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Indian influencer and activist Dhruv Rathee, second left, Indian actor Prakash Raj, fourth left, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, fifth left and other supporters join hands during a protest demanding the resignation of the country's election chief Gyanesh Kumar, in Bengaluru, India, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Senegal and Morocco played a chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final in January and they contested the title again Thursday — this time at the Court of Arbitration for Sport which expects a verdict within days.
A turbulent match, provoking violent clashes between Senegal fans and Moroccan police, and a hugely controversial fallout is being re-litigated at sport’s highest court in Switzerland nearly nine months after the referee’s final whistle blew in Rabat.
The authority of that referee, Jean-Jacques Ndala of Congo, could be decisive in Senegal’s appeal to regain the trophy that was stripped from players who earned it on the field of play with a 1-0 win over Morocco after extra time.
The result was overturned in March to a 3-0 win for Morocco by a Confederation of African Football (CAF) appeals panel because Senegal’s team walked off to protest a penalty being awarded, causing a 15-minute delay in play.
Lawyers and officials for the Senegalese and Moroccan soccer federations did not talk with media heading into a one-day appeal hearing scheduled with three judges behind closed doors Thursday at CAS headquarters in Lausanne.
The court's director general, Matthieu Reeb, told reporters the judges aim to give their decision “a few days later” to finally crown the champion of African men’s soccer.
“I know it’s a long wait for the fans, a few months after the final," Reeb said. "The procedural calendar has been established with the agreement of the parties.”
The next AFCON kicks off in June, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Leaders of the Senegalese and Moroccan federations had been expected to skip the hearing that clashes with a three-day CAF soccer summit in Cape Verde being attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Soccer’s rule book, The Laws of the Game, is clear about the referee’s decision-making power.
“The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final,” Law 5.2 states.
Senegal beat host Morocco in a final eventually completed to referee Ndala’s satisfaction, despite the chaos.
The referee restarted play once Senegal’s players returned to the field after protesting a penalty kick awarded to Morocco deep in stoppage time.
Before the referee could decide to abandon the game, which would have gifted the title to Morocco, Senegal star forward Sadio Mané helped to persuade his team to finish the game as tensions rose in the stadium.
The game restarted with the spot kick that could have won Morocco a first AFCON title since 1976.
What Brahim Díaz did next entered soccer history. The Real Madrid forward placed a delicate slow chip shot, designed to deceive the goalkeeper who typically dives to one side and watches the ball slowly arc into the middle of the goal.
Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy stood up straight and easily caught the ball. In the stadium VIP section, footage showed a visibly shocked Moroccan Prince Moulay Rachid sitting with FIFA's Infantino.
The game went into extra time, and four minutes later Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye surged forward to fire a rising shot into the Morocco net. It was the only goal.
More than $1 million in total fines for the two federations, plus players and Senegal coach Pape Thiaw, were imposed 11 days after the game by Cairo-based CAF disciplinary judges.
The judges dismissed a request by Morocco to have the result annulled and be declared the winner because of the Senegal walk-off.
There were appeals to CAF and, two months after the final, Senegal was ruled to have forfeited the game.
CAF appeal judges cited AFCON tournament rules that if a team “refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorization of the referee, it shall be considered loser and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition.”
Senegal's government promised to help “pursue all appropriate legal avenues” to regain the title and called for an investigation “into suspected corruption” within African soccer.
The case fueled the sense that 2030 World Cup co-host Morocco has extensive influence within CAF and FIFA.
In May, Morocco King Mohammed VI pardoned 18 Senegalese soccer fans who were jailed for disorder in the Rabat stadium.
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
FILE - Senegal's Sadio Mane holds the trophy aloft as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Youssef Loulidi, File)
FILE - Senegal supporters are taken from the stadium by security officers after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco late on during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Youssef Loulidi, File)
FILE - Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Osoque Mendy saves a penalty from Morocco's Brahim Abdelkader Díaz during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Youssef Loulidi, File)
FILE - Players from both sides clash after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco late on during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Youssef Loulidi, File)
