Hundreds of people gathered at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park in Hyderabad on Saturday, October 3, demanding the cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest was organised jointly by several civil society groups and organisations, including the Telangana Praja Front (TPF), Telangana Voters Rights Forum (TVRF), National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), Students Islamic Union (SIU) and Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), along with other participating groups.
The demonstration was held from approximately 10 am to 2:30 pm, with participants raising concerns about voter rights, transparency and the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Three Major Demands Raised
The protesters put forward three key demands:
- Cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
- Immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Repeal of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
Participants carried banners and placards displaying slogans such as “Scrap SIR” and “Save Democracy”.
Prakash Raj Addresses the Gathering
- Actor and social activist Prakash Raj attended the demonstration and addressed the gathering, expressing criticism of the ongoing electoral roll revision process and supporting the demands raised by the protesters.
- Speakers at the event questioned the transparency of the revision exercise and expressed concerns about the possible exclusion of eligible voters.
- The concerns and allegations raised at the protest represent the position of the participating organisations and protesters.
Why Is SIR Facing Opposition?
- The Special Intensive Revision is an electoral roll revision exercise undertaken by the Election Commission to verify and update voter records.
- However, the exercise has faced criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups over concerns about documentation requirements, voter deletions, verification procedures and the possibility of eligible voters being excluded.
- The protesters called for safeguards to protect citizens voting rights and demanded greater transparency in the electoral process.
Telangana Electoral Roll Schedule
- The protest comes as Telangana’s SIR exercise has entered the disposal and verification stage.
- The final electoral rolls are scheduled to be published on November 9, 2026.
- The revision process has become a major political and public debate, with questions being raised about voter inclusion, administrative procedures and electoral transparency.
Larger Demonstration Planned in Delhi
- The organisers indicated that a larger demonstration would be held in New Delhi on October 10 if their demands were not addressed.
- The Hyderabad gathering adds to the continuing nationwide debate surrounding SIR, the Election Commission’s functioning and the protection of voting rights.
Business Galaxy will continue to follow developments concerning electoral roll revisions, voter rights and official responses.
