Neha Bora, a 29-year-old PhD student at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, is emerging as a prominent figure among India's Gen Z-led protesters. This weekend, they will join demonstrations in Delhi demanding the resignation of the country's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar.

Background

Neha, who identifies with the pronouns "they" and "them," is a theatre artist and activist affiliated with the All India Students' Association (AISA), a Left-wing organization engaged in campus politics for the past decade. They have served as AISA's president for the last two years. Recently, Neha's visibility has extended beyond campus boundaries, with viral videos showing them being dragged by police, climbing barricades, and being detained during protests.

In a recent interview with BBC Bangla, Neha downplayed the attention they have received, stating:

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"I know it happened in front of the camera so it seems like it's something different. But I have seen all student activists with the Left doing the same things that I have been doing. It's just that there is a camera on me, so people think something different is happening."

Current Protests

The attention on Neha coincides with significant protests across India, marking one of the most substantial challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 12-year tenure. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a Gen Z-led satirical movement, recently held weeks-long protests in Delhi over education reforms, culminating in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in July. Additionally, opposition parties, particularly the Congress, have taken to the streets to advocate for electoral reforms.

Videos of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra facing police resistance have also gained traction in the media. The upcoming protest in Delhi, organized by the CJP, aims to demand the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of manipulating electoral rolls to benefit Modi's BJP. Both the Election Commission and the BJP have denied these accusations. Although Neha is not a member of the CJP, they have expressed their intention to participate in the protest.