New Delhi: Protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar intensified across several parts of India, with opposition parties, student organisations and farmers groups demanding electoral accountability and raising concerns over alleged voter deletions.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Neha Bora Lead Delhi March
- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and All India Students Association (AISA) leader Neha Bora joined thousands of supporters in the INDIA bloc’s “Chalo Delhi March for Democracy” towards the Supreme Court.
- Opposition leaders demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a halt to the contentious SIR exercise, alleging irregularities in voter list revisions. Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders filed a petition challenging the Election Commission’s actions.
- Other leaders associated with the protest included Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and several INDIA bloc representatives.
- AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Saurabh Bharadwaj were detained while leading a separate protest against the CEC, according to media reports.
- Police imposed security restrictions in central Delhi, and traffic was affected around Mandi House, Barakhamba Road and nearby areas. Delhi Police also announced that Jantar Mantar would no longer be a designated protest site, identifying Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as alternative venues.
Protests and Detentions in Maharashtra
- In Maharashtra, demonstrations against the SIR exercise and the CEC continued in Mumbai, Pune and Nashik.
- Political leaders and activists participated in protests, while police detained demonstrators in several locations. Earlier demonstrations in Mumbai included participation by Aaditya Thackeray and Amit Thackeray. Protesters raised concerns over voter list revisions and demanded action against the Election Commission leadership.
Andhra Pradesh: Protest March Stopped in Vijayawada
- In Vijayawada, a march supported by Congress, CPI and CPI(M) members was stopped by police as participants attempted to proceed towards Lok Bhavan to submit a memorandum to the Governor.
- Several politicians and activists were detained, while some others were reportedly placed under house arrest.
Uttar Pradesh: Demonstrations in Prayagraj
- In Prayagraj, student and youth organisations staged a protest against the SIR process, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and electronic voting machines (EVMs). Protesters demanded the withdrawal of SIR and advocated a return to ballot-paper voting.
- Separately, farmers affiliated with the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) were stopped at locations near the Noida Delhi border while travelling towards Delhi for the earlier CJP protest. Farmers subsequently staged a sit in after police blocked their movement.
Assam: Solidarity Demonstration in Guwahati
- In Guwahati, around 300 people reportedly assembled at Chachal in support of the protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Delhi. Police prevented the group from taking out a procession.
Jharkhand: Protest in Ranchi
- In Ranchi, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) organised a procession raising allegations of voter theft and opposing the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act.
Kerala Assembly Seeks Removal of CEC
- The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a resolution on October 12 seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid the controversy surrounding the SIR exercise.
- The development added a legislative dimension to the opposition’s wider campaign against the election roll revision process.
Farmers Organisations Announce Further Nationwide Action
- The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a farmers organisation, extended support to the youth-led protests in Delhi. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said the organisation would support the campaign.
- According to reports, the SKM announced demonstrations at district and tehsil levels across the country on October 23, with participants expected to submit memorandums. This is a planned nationwide action and should not be confused with protests already held on October 12.
What Happens Next?
- The protests have widened from Delhi to several states, involving opposition parties, student groups, activists and farmers. Demonstrators are demanding a halt to the SIR exercise and accountability from the Election Commission, while the government and election authorities have maintained that voter list revisions are intended to improve electoral roll accuracy.
- The political dispute remains ongoing, and further demonstrations and legal proceedings are expected in the coming days.
Source: Reports from national media outlets, including The Indian Express, The Times of India, India Today and The Tribune, published on October 11-12, 2026. Allegations regarding electoral irregularities remain disputed.
