SIR protest in Bengaluru: CJP, activists demand electoral roll rollback
Synopsis
Thousands descended on Bengaluru's Freedom Park on 8 October as the CJP and allied groups staged a major protest against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls — demanding a full rollback, public disclosure of the methodology, and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Actor-activist Prakash Raj led the charge, alleging the CEC is not acting independently.
Key Takeaways
CJP and allied social organisations held a large protest at Freedom Park, Bengaluru on 8 October 2026 against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Protesters demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and restoration of electoral rolls to their pre-SIR status .
Actor-activist Prakash Raj alleged the CEC was not acting independently; Kavita Lankesh and CJP founder Abhijeeth Deepke also addressed the gathering.
Concerns were raised over voter name deletions in West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh , and Goa without adequate notice or transparency.
A People's Tribunal was held at the venue, collecting testimonies from affected voters across Karnataka .
Heavy police security was deployed around Freedom Park and the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Bengaluru.
Thousands of protesters gathered at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on 8 October 2026 to oppose the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, organised by the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) and several allied social organisations. The demonstrators demanded that the SIR exercise be immediately withdrawn and that electoral rolls be restored to their pre-SIR status.
Key Demands of the Protest
Speakers at the event called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the revision process had adversely affected genuine voters. Protesters accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of insufficient transparency and sought public disclosure of the process and methodology adopted during the revision exercise.
Participants also raised concerns over reported revisions and deletions in electoral rolls across multiple states, including West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Goa. Some alleged that voter names had been removed without adequate notice or due procedure, calling for corrective measures and greater accountability.
Who Attended and What They Said
The protest drew CJP founder Abhijeeth Deepke, actor and activist Prakash Raj, and director and activist Kavita Lankesh, among other prominent personalities. Addressing the gathering, Prakash Raj alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was not acting independently and questioned the manner in which the SIR exercise was being carried out.
Several participants emphasised that the issue transcended political lines and directly concerned the voting rights of citizens across the country. This is notably one of the largest public mobilisations against the ECI's electoral roll revision process in Karnataka in recent memory.
People's Tribunal at Freedom Park
The venue also hosted a People's Tribunal, where organisers provided a platform for voters from Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka to share their experiences relating to alleged deletion of names from electoral rolls without prior notice. Organisers said the testimonies would be compiled and submitted to the relevant authorities as evidence of procedural lapses.
Security and Law and Order
Heavy security arrangements were made around Freedom Park and on routes leading to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Bengaluru, with police personnel and barricades deployed to maintain law and order. No untoward incidents were reported from the venue.
With the SIR controversy drawing civil society voices from across the political spectrum, pressure on the Election Commission to respond publicly and transparently is expected to grow in the days ahead.
Point of View
Public accounting of the methodology behind roll revisions, and the silence is feeding precisely the suspicion that drives crowds to Freedom Park. Notably, the multi-state dimension of the complaints — West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Goa — suggests this is a national governance question, not a local Karnataka grievance. The ECI's credibility rests on the perception of impartiality; every day it delays a transparent response, that perception erodes further.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
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 verify voter rolls, involving the addition, correction, or deletion of entries. Protesters allege that the current SIR round has resulted in the removal of genuine voters' names without adequate notice or due procedure.
Why are protesters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar?
Protesters, including actor-activist Prakash Raj, allege that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is not acting independently and that the SIR process lacks transparency. They accuse the Election Commission of failing to adequately address concerns raised over voter deletions across multiple states.
Which states have been flagged for electoral roll deletions?
Participants at the Bengaluru protest raised concerns over reported revisions and deletions in electoral rolls in West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Goa, in addition to Karnataka. They called for public disclosure of the data and methodology used by the Election Commission.
What is the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP)?
The Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) is a civil liberties organisation that focuses on constitutional rights, minority rights, and electoral accountability in India. CJP founder Abhijeeth Deepke was among those who addressed the protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on 8 October 2026.
What happens next after the protest?
Organisers have indicated that testimonies gathered at the People's Tribunal will be compiled and submitted to relevant authorities. Pressure on the Election Commission to respond publicly is expected to intensify, with similar demonstrations possible in other states if no corrective measures are announced.
