Farmers' and Dalit organisations in Karnataka have announced statewide protests on 23 October against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging irregularities in the process and vowing to hold public rallies at district headquarters across the state. The announcement was made at a press conference in Bengaluru on 19 October.

What the Protest Is About

The organisations have declared solidarity with the broader national campaign opposing the SIR process, calling for demonstrations modelled on the protests held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. They allege that the revision process has been marred by political interference and could disenfranchise vulnerable communities, particularly farmers and Dalits.

Actor and activist Prakash Raj, addressing the press conference, confirmed that farmers' and Dalit organisations would jointly participate in the 23 October rallies — a Friday — across Karnataka. He alleged that young people and women journalists had faced police brutality during protests in Delhi, and accused the government of remaining silent over the alleged mistreatment of demonstrators.

Allegations Over Delhi Protest Curbs

Prakash Raj alleged that Jantar Mantar had been effectively closed to protesters, and claimed that 30,000 personnel had been deployed to block demonstrations in the national capital. He further alleged that individuals released from custody had been armed with batons to attack protesters, and that demonstrators were not even permitted to march while carrying the national flag. These claims have not been independently verified.

Drawing a parallel with the farmers' movement against the Centre's farm laws, Prakash Raj recalled that the government had earlier deployed tear gas against farmers but was ultimately compelled to withdraw several laws. 'People are fed up with your misrule. Farmers will return to the streets,' he warned.

Demand for CEC's Resignation

Farmer leader Badagalapura Nagendra, who also addressed the press conference, alleged that political considerations had influenced the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and demanded a transparent, impartial selection process. He called on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign and demanded the immediate cancellation of the SIR process.

Nagendra questioned where citizens could raise their voices if protests at Jantar Mantar continued to be restricted, describing the Centre's approach as 'anti-people.' He said farmers, Dalit outfits, and progressive groups would unite across Karnataka in opposition to what they characterise as an attempt to manipulate the electoral rolls.

Scale and Next Steps

Demonstrations modelled on the Jantar Mantar protests are planned for every district and village in Karnataka, according to Nagendra. The 23 October rallies are set to be held at district headquarters, giving the movement a structured, decentralised character. This comes amid growing national scrutiny over the SIR process, with opposition parties and civil society groups raising concerns about its timing and methodology.

The protests on 23 October will serve as the first major test of how broad a coalition these organisations can mobilise at the state level against a centrally administered electoral process.