BJD joins INDIA bloc march, demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar resign over SIR row
Synopsis
The BJD — which has long maintained equidistance from both INDIA bloc and NDA — broke from its neutrality on 6 October to join the opposition's march against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, citing the alleged deletion of 13 crore voter names nationwide and 20 lakh in Odisha alone. The move marks a rare and pointed alignment by Naveen Patnaik's party, backed by Supreme Court observations that directly contradict the Election Commission's stated justifications for the SIR exercise.
Key Takeaways
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) joined the INDIA bloc protest march in New Delhi on 6 October 2026 , demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar .
BJD Supremo Naveen Patnaik had already called for the CEC's resignation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) controversy before the march.
The BJD alleged that more than 20 lakh voters in Odisha and over 13 crore voters across India were deleted from electoral rolls under the SIR process.
In Dhamnagar Assembly constituency , 227 votes belonging to a minority community were allegedly removed without BLOs' knowledge.
The Supreme Court reportedly clarified it had issued no direction on the SIR exercise, contradicting the Election Commission's earlier position.
The State Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha's voluntary retirement application has added to concerns about the revision process.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, announced its participation in the opposition parties' protest march in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over his alleged arbitrary role in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party cited the alleged deletion of names of more than 13 crore voters across the country as the primary trigger for joining the march.
BJD's Decision to Join the March
BJD Parliamentary Party Leader in the Rajya Sabha, Manas Mangaraj, stated that party MPs would participate in the protest march as directed by BJD Supremo and Leader of Opposition, Naveen Patnaik. Notably, the BJD has traditionally maintained equidistance from both the INDIA bloc and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), making this a significant departure from its usual stance.
'The BJD has maintained equal distance from both the INDIA bloc and the NDA. However, as a responsible political party committed to protecting democratic institutions and the integrity of the electoral process, the BJD will participate in today's programme,' Mangaraj said.
Key Allegations Against the SIR Exercise
Mangaraj alleged that more than 20 lakh voters in Odisha and over 13 crore voters nationwide had been excluded from electoral rolls under the SIR process. He pointed specifically to an incident in Dhamnagar Assembly constituency, where 227 votes belonging to members of a minority community were allegedly deleted from the rolls without the knowledge of the concerned Booth Level Officers (BLOs).
'The deletion of 227 votes belonging to members of a minority community from a particular area, allegedly without the knowledge of the concerned BLOs, raises serious questions about the integrity of the SIR exercise,' Mangaraj alleged. He added that thousands of voters had reportedly been excluded from the rolls in Dhamnagar alone.
Supreme Court Observations and Election Commission's Role
The Supreme Court's observations regarding the modification of Form 6 have also deepened concerns about the Election Commission's conduct. The Court reportedly clarified that no direction regarding the SIR exercise had been issued by it — contrary to what the Election Commission had earlier indicated. According to Mangaraj, this contradiction raises serious questions about CEC Gyanesh Kumar's role in the alleged manipulation of electoral rolls.
Further adding to concerns, the voluntary retirement application submitted by the State Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha has fuelled additional speculation about the integrity of the revision process.
Naveen Patnaik's Earlier Demand
The BJD Supremo, Naveen Patnaik, had already demanded the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar before Tuesday's march. The party's decision to formally join the INDIA bloc's protest signals a hardening of its position on electoral roll integrity, even as it insists the move is driven by democratic principles rather than political alignment.
What Happens Next
The opposition protest march in New Delhi brings together parties from across the political spectrum, united on the specific demand of CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal. Whether the march translates into formal parliamentary action or a legal challenge remains to be seen. The Supreme Court's ongoing scrutiny of the SIR process could prove to be the decisive arena where the electoral roll controversy is ultimately resolved.
Point of View
But the Supreme Court's apparent contradiction of the Election Commission's own justification is the story that matters most: if the Commission cited a Court direction that the Court says it never gave, the integrity question moves from political allegation to institutional accountability. The State CEO's voluntary retirement application, quietly buried in the coverage, deserves scrutiny of its own.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the BJD join the INDIA bloc protest march on 6 October 2026?
The BJD joined the opposition protest march in New Delhi to demand the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over the alleged arbitrary deletion of more than 13 crore voter names nationwide during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party stated its participation was driven by commitment to democratic institutions, not political alignment with the INDIA bloc.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to update and clean up electoral rolls. Critics, including the BJD, allege that the current SIR exercise under CEC Gyanesh Kumar has resulted in the wrongful deletion of over 13 crore voter names across India, including more than 20 lakh in Odisha.
What happened in Dhamnagar regarding the SIR exercise?
In Dhamnagar Assembly constituency in Odisha, 227 votes belonging to members of a minority community were allegedly deleted from electoral rolls without the knowledge of the concerned Booth Level Officers (BLOs). The BJD alleged thousands of voters in Dhamnagar alone have been excluded from the rolls.
What did the Supreme Court say about the SIR exercise?
The Supreme Court reportedly clarified that it had not issued any direction regarding the modification of Form 6 in connection with the SIR exercise, contradicting what the Election Commission had earlier indicated. The BJD cited this contradiction as raising serious questions about CEC Gyanesh Kumar's role in the electoral roll revision.
Has Naveen Patnaik previously demanded CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation?
Yes. BJD Supremo and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik had already demanded CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation before the 6 October march, citing the CEC's alleged controversial role in the SIR exercise. The party's MPs joining the protest march formalised this position publicly.
