Full Breakdown
Protests Across India Demand Rollback of the Special Intensive Revision and Resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Mass March and Police Detentions on October 23, 2026
Around 500 protesters—including students, youth, women, farmers and civil-society groups—marched through central Delhi under the banner “People Against SIR.” The procession gathered near the Gol Dak Khana roundabout before attempting to reach the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters. Police erected barricades on Ashoka Road, halted the march about 500 m from the ECI, and used whistles and repeated warnings to push the crowd back. Detention vehicles later removed protesters; Delhi Police reported roughly 20 arrests, while demonstrators claimed about 50 were rounded up. An FIR was filed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for violating prohibitory orders.
Background & Context
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a nationwide exercise aimed at updating voter lists. A Supreme Court ruling on May 27, 2026 upheld the validity of the SIR in Bihar and affirmed the Election Commission’s authority to revise rolls, while limiting its role to eligibility checks. The protests were triggered by a September 23 investigation that alleged key SIR decisions were taken without the knowledge of two of the three election commissioners. More than 200 organisations convened an emergency consultation in Delhi, forming the “People Against SIR” platform that now unites 145 civil-society groups, farmers’ unions, workers’ organisations and youth collectives across 18 states.
Official Statements & Responses
The Election Commission of India said major SIR decisions were taken unanimously by the full commission, rejecting claims of internal dissent. Punjab’s finance minister Harpal Cheema moved a resolution calling for an independent inquiry into CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s actions and accusing the ruling party of “vote chori.” The Delhi High Court, through Justice Subramonium Prasad, dismissed a writ petition seeking a peace bond against an All India Students' Association (AISA) leader, indicating judicial reluctance to intervene in protest-related orders.
Criticism & Opposition
Activist Yogendra Yadav warned that silencing one protest site would spawn “hundreds more,” insisting the movement will persist until CEC Kumar resigns. CPI leader Annie Raja described the SIR as a tool used by the Narendra Modi government to undermine constitutional safeguards. All India Kisan Sabha vice-president Inderjeet Singh condemned alleged manhandling of women protesters and demanded the scrapping of SIR to protect voting rights.
On-the-Ground Reports
Protesters carried the national flag and banners reading “Scrap SIR,” “Vote Chori,” and “Gyanesh Kumar Resign,” chanting “Halt SIR” and “Won’t tolerate vote theft.” After police blocked the march, demonstrators staged a sit-in dubbed the “People’s Parliament” near the roundabout. Similar flash protests were reported in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other cities, with youth groups emphasizing that the right to protest is inseparable from the right to vote.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Detention figures differ: police cite ? 20 arrests; protesters assert ? 50.
- Voter-list deletions are reported as “over 13 crore” nationwide, while Punjab’s audit lists 13.6 lakh deletions; the discrepancy reflects differing scopes of reporting.
- The Chief Election Commissioner has not issued a public response to the resignation demands, leaving a notable gap in official commentary.
What’s Next
A “mock Parliament” is slated for October 28 to dramatise an impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, followed by a large “Delhi Chalo” rally on November 1. The Union Home Ministry has extended CAPF deployment in Delhi until October 31, and the People Against SIR platform continues to coordinate demonstrations in 88 cities through early November.