The INDIA bloc in Tripura has announced a major protest rally in Agartala on 30 October, demanding the withdrawal of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The eight-party alliance made the announcement on Saturday, 24 October, vowing to sustain the agitation until all four of its demands are addressed.

Key Demands and the October 30 Rally

Leaders of the Tripura unit of the INDIA Bloc — comprising Congress, CPI (M), CPI, Revolutionary Socialist Party, All India Forward Bloc, CPI (ML), Gana Mancha, and Tripura People's Party — jointly unveiled the protest programme at the Agartala Press Club. The alliance's four-point charter calls for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the withdrawal of the SIR process, a review of provisions allegedly undermining the Election Commission's independence, and opposition to legal protections granted to the Chief Election Commissioner.

Opposition leaders, workers, and supporters are expected to gather in the heart of the state capital before marching to the office of the Election Commission of India's (ECI) representative — the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) — to submit a formal memorandum.

Allegations Over Voter Deletions

CPI (M) Tripura state Secretary and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury alleged that the SIR exercise poses a serious risk to genuine voters if adequate safeguards are not put in place. He claimed that nearly 13.50 crore voters have already been removed from electoral rolls across the country through the SIR process, and warned that over 2.50 lakh voters in Tripura alone could face deletion during the upcoming revision. Chaudhury also questioned the Election Commission's neutrality and accused the BJP-led Central government of weakening democratic institutions.

Congress Flags Irregularities in Voter Registration

Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashish Kumar Saha echoed these concerns, alleging irregularities in voter registration — including duplicate entries and unusually large numbers of voters registered at certain addresses. Saha warned that such discrepancies could erode public confidence in the electoral system and called on political parties outside the INDIA Bloc, as well as other democracy supporters, to join the campaign.

Broader Context and What Comes Next

The protest comes amid a national-level controversy over the SIR exercise, which opposition parties across several states have flagged as potentially disenfranchising. This is not the first time the INDIA Bloc has targeted the Election Commission's functioning — similar demonstrations have been staged in other states in recent months. Notably, the demand for Gyanesh Kumar's removal has become a rallying point for the broader opposition, which has consistently questioned his appointment and the Commission's independence. The October 30 rally will be closely watched as a barometer of opposition unity in Tripura ahead of future electoral contests.