Protests over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls continued in Delhi and Mumbai on Sunday, with opposition leaders and demonstrators demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
In Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray led a joint protest march called the “Virat Garjana Morcha”. The march began at Metro Cinema and moved towards the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters.
The protesters raised objections to the SIR process and demanded the resignation or removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leaders also participated in the Mumbai demonstration. Organisers asked participants to carry the national tricolour instead of party flags.
Raj Thackeray also called for a return to ballot paper voting, arguing that electoral transparency should be strengthened. These remarks came amid the wider political dispute over the Election Commission, SIR and the use of electronic voting machines.
Delhi Protest Developments
- In Delhi, demonstrations and political mobilisation over SIR and the Election Commission also continued. Protesters have been demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar and raising concerns about the possible exclusion of eligible voters from electoral rolls.
- The dispute has led to heightened security around protest locations. According to reports published today, around 150 people were detained during Saturday’s attempt by protesters to reach Jantar Mantar, including activist Yogendra Yadav, AISA national president Neha Bora and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan.
Centre and BJP Response
- The Centre and BJP have rejected allegations that SIR is being used deliberately to remove eligible voters or benefit the ruling party.
- Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan defended the Election Commission and the electoral roll revision process on Sunday. He accused Congress of questioning constitutional institutions and the Election Commission after electoral defeats.
- Chouhan also criticised Congress leaders demand for a return to ballot paper voting, arguing that the party had accepted electronic voting when it won elections in states including Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh. He said electoral rolls are continuously updated through the removal of duplicate names and the addition of eligible voters.
- The BJP has similarly rejected allegations of deliberate voter suppression. The Election Commission has maintained that the SIR exercise is intended to identify duplicate, deceased and otherwise ineligible entries while ensuring that eligible voters remain included.
Political Dispute Continues
- The controversy has now become a major political confrontation between opposition parties and the Election Commission. Opposition leaders argue that the SIR process could affect eligible voters, while the Centre, BJP and Election Commission defend the exercise as a voter list verification process.
- The competing claims remain politically contested, and allegations of deliberate voter suppression should not be treated as established facts without independent verification.
- Further protests and political programmes are expected in the coming days as opposition parties continue to demand changes to the SIR process and accountability from the Election Commission.
