Full Breakdown
Nationwide Protest Planned Against Electoral Roll Revision on October 23, 2026
By Drooid · · How we work
Nationwide Anti-SIR Protest Set for October 23, 2026
On Friday, October 23, 2026, the People Against SIR alliance will organise a coordinated march across India demanding the repeal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Background: SIR Revision and Formation of People Against SIR
The SIR exercise, introduced under the Election Commissioners Act, 2023, aims to delete ineligible names from voter lists. The alliance alleges that the process has removed 13 crore voters, disproportionately affecting marginalised communities. An Indian Express expose reported that CEC Gyanesh Kumar faced 14 formal objections to the SIR over the past ten months. In response, the coalition of more than 200 civil-society organisations was formed on October 14, 2026, bringing together students, farmers, Dalits, Adivasis and minority groups.
Key Participants
- Parakala Prabhakar – economist and author, former communications adviser to the Andhra government; previously joined an October 8 protest in Bengaluru’s Freedom Park.
- Abhijeet Dipke – founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
- Prakash Raj – actor-activist.
- Prashant Bhushan – senior advocate and activist.
- Rakesh Tikait – farmer leader.
- Neha Bora – president of the All India Students’ Association (AISA).
- Tushar Gandhi – author and activist.
Official Alliance Statements & Responses
The People Against SIR alliance has issued a statement asserting that the SIR has led to large-scale deletion of eligible voters, especially from vulnerable groups, and that it seeks to restore those names, pursue legal action against CEC Kumar, repeal recent amendments to the Election Commissioners Act and re-introduce paper ballots. The alliance also called on parties in the INDIA bloc to join the October 23 mobilisation.
Opposition Criticism
Opposition figures have questioned Prabhakar’s participation, alleging a potential conflict of interest because his spouse, Union Home Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman, belongs to a rival party. Critics argue that his involvement could compromise state interests, a claim the alliance has not addressed.
The protest marks a heightened phase of dissent over electoral reforms, with authorities having recently denotified Delhi’s Jantar Mantar as a protest site, further intensifying the standoff between civil-society groups and the election establishment.