Ravi Shankar Prasad, a senior BJP leader and former Union minister, dismissed the opposition’s Day 2 protest over voter list revisions, saying it would not shake PM Narendra Modi’s grip. He said on NDTV that the demonstrations, which target the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, represent a "my way or highway" attitude that refuses to recognize India’s institutions.
The protest was sparked by allegations that the voter lists contain irregularities that could influence the upcoming elections. Congress leaders have demanded Modi’s resignation, arguing that the legitimacy of the electoral process has been compromised. Prasad countered, "If we don’t succeed, we won’t let other institutions function," underscoring the opposition’s threat to institutional stability.
Prasad cited past incidents to bolster his argument. He recalled that when Modi was Gujarat chief minister, the opposition tried to block his entry into Delhi and harassed him in the Supreme Court. He asked, "Has Modi faced questions earlier?" and pointed to the 2014 and 2019 elections as proof of the Prime Minister’s enduring mandate.
Opposition slogans have turned into a series of brief, unfulfilled protests. A recent rally in Mumbai saw party members march for two hours and disperse, a pattern that Prasad highlighted as typical of the opposition’s failure to sustain pressure. He warned that the movement will not accept the Supreme Court, Election Commission, or even the Army’s authority.
The Election Commission is expected to respond to the protests in the coming days, while the opposition’s demand for Modi’s resignation remains unfulfilled. The protests are likely to continue, setting the stage for further political standoffs before the next election cycle.