The protests began in September 2026 following an investigation published by The Indian Express on 23 September, which reported that the two other election commissioners had formally objected on multiple occasions to decisions concerning the electoral-roll revision. The demonstrations have involved opposition parties belonging to the INDIA bloc, the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), and student and civil-society groups. Protests have taken place in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and other cities.
The 2025–2026 Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls began in Bihar in June 2025 and was subsequently extended to other states. The exercise was intended to verify and update electoral rolls. Reporting on the revisions published in September 2026 stated that more than 71% of the names deleted up to that point had been classified under the category "absent, shifted or others". Opposition parties criticised the deletions, describing them as "vote theft" and alleging that eligible voters had been excluded. The Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) maintained that the exercise was intended to remove duplicate, deceased and otherwise ineligible entries.
On 23 September 2026, an investigation by The Indian Express, subsequently reported by The Times of India, described at least 14 objections raised over 10 months by election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi concerning decisions related to the SIR. According to the reporting, the objections concerned changes to Form 6, the centralisation of electoral-roll databases through ECINet and ERONET, the restoration of eligible voters, and the handling of appeals, including reports of numerous appeals filed through a single login in West Bengal. The investigation also reported concerns that some decisions had been issued without the concurrence of the full Commission.[citation needed]
The ECI responded that the commissioners' queries and suggestions concerned operational matters at the draft stage and formed part of normal administrative practice. It maintained that the final decisions relating to the SIR were taken unanimously.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and opposition parties subsequently demanded Kumar's resignation and called for the cancellation or suspension of the SIR. Other demands included restoring electoral rolls predating the revision, an independent inquiry into the process, a return to paper-ballot voting and repeal of the 2023 appointment law. The Congress demanded Kumar's resignation, cancellation of the SIR and a return to paper ballots, while the CJP also called for a temporary suspension of upcoming elections and criminal proceedings against him. INDIA bloc, a major political alliance of opposition parties, demanded temporary suspension of SIR, no deletion of voters without notice and hearing, publication of details of deleted voters, disclosure of internal records and decision making of the ECI, independent audit of the SIR including software employed in the process, and proper recording of all decisions made in the SIR process.
The BJP characterised the demonstrations as politically motivated, while opposition leaders argued that the revision threatened voting rights and electoral fairness.[citation needed]
On 24 September 2026, the Cockroach Janta Party, gave Gyanesh 48 hours to resign as CEC and threatened nationwide protests. Its demands included Gyanesh's resignation, criminal proceedings against him, a freeze on upcoming assembly elections and the rollback of the SIR.
On 25 September, the Indian National Congress organised protests in several states demanding Kumar's resignation; some demonstrators and party leaders also called for his arrest. Police used tear gas and water cannons in locations including Chandigarh, Chennai, Patna and Lucknow, while tear-gas shells were reported in Imphal. Demonstrators were detained in several states. In Assam, state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi was detained during a protest. Reuters reported demonstrations in at least a dozen states. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Commission of vote theft, while the BJP characterised the campaign as a reaction to electoral defeat.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipkeorganized protests on 2 October, in recognition of Gandhi Jayanti, at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, and Shivaji Park, Mumbai following a 'Jail Bharo Andolan' strategy where protestors let themselves be arrested, since permission to organize protests at both locations was denied by police authorities. CJP organized the protest at Shivaji park despite strict legal restrictions under Bombay High Court rulings limit non-sporting and political gatherings at the ground to protect its status as a residential neighborhood and sports complex. Following successful conduction of the protests, CJP announced a second phase of protests, called "Protest 2.0" (referring to a different protest) starting from October 10.
On 4 October, the All India Students' Association (AISA) led a march in Delhi towards Jantar Mantar that was stopped by police barricades on Ashoka Road. Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, including participation by other political parties, also organized a march in Mumbai demanding SIR to be scrapped and return to paper ballots, "Virat Garjana Morcha" from Metro Cinema to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters in Mumbai attended by nearly 6000 people. The Hindu reported that nearly 500 people were detained on 4 October in Delhi, while other reporting gave a lower figure of approximately 110 for detentions associated with the day's clashes including AISA national president, Neha Bora. Reports also said that 12 to 15 police personnel were injured. A woman journalist covering an earlier protest alleged that a police officer had sexually harassed and manhandled her; opposition leaders criticised the reported treatment of women journalists.
On 5 October, the Supreme Court of India declined to grant an interim order suspending Kumar and issued notice to the ECI and other respondents on petitions challenging the decision-making process relating to the SIR.
From 2 to 8 October, the INDIA bloc conducted a series of protests including district-level marches and a march by opposition members of parliament to the ECI on 6 October with a proposed meeting with President Droupadi Murmu demanding Gyanesh's resignation, the use of pre-SIR electoral rolls, a return to paper ballots and an appeal process for voters excluded from the rolls. Those attending the meeting included Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee. Key leaders organizing the protests were briefly detained.[citation needed]
On 8 October, CJP organised a demonstration at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Participants included Dipke, co-conveners Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, actor-activist Prakash Raj, digital commentator Dhruv Rathee and civil-society representatives. The event included a "People's Tribunal" at which participants described alleged errors in electoral databases and exclusions from the rolls. Organisers demanded that the SIR be scrapped and Kumar resign. The demonstration also featured "chappal protest", a protest involving footwear directed at effigies or posters of the ECI and the CEC.
At Chennai, the Students' Federation of India and the All India United Students' Federation also staged protests demanding the resignation or removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Around 150 people were detained, and a First Information Report (FIR) was registered in connection with the protests. Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin criticised the arrests. In Delhi, the youth organisation Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) held a protest at the Red Fort, followed by another protest along the Yamuna river on 11 October. KYS activists described these locations as new sites of protest after being denied access to the streets. The organisation also staged a protest outside the Supreme Court of India, demanding action against the Delhi Police over the detention of peaceful protesters, which the protesters alleged violated the court's directions.
On 12 October, INDIA Bloc organized a march towards Supreme Court and filed a petition against the CEC, Gyanesh Kumar and was also supported by various student bodies.
Jantar Mantar 2.0 protests
On 5 October, CJP announced a further demonstration at Jantar Mantar for 10 October, referred to as "Jantar Mantar 2.0". Delhi Police denied permission for the gathering, saying the organisers had submitted their request too late. Ahead of the proposed protest, police conducted overnight operations and detained people with criminal records, according to The Hindu.
Authorities imposed extensive security restrictions in Delhi ahead of the protest. Measures included the closure of metro stations, restrictions on mobile internet services in parts of central Delhi, cancellation and rescheduling of trains, barricades and the deployment of large numbers of security personnel, which were undertaken by invoking 168 BNSS for preventative measures against cognizable offense. Reports differed on the number of personnel deployed and the extent of the transport restrictions.[citation needed]
On 10 October, police prevented demonstrators from assembling at Jantar Mantar and detained thousands of people across Delhi. Published estimates varied: The Hindu reported more than 5,000 detentions, Reuters reported more than 2,000, while police figures was reported to be 2,500. Some protesters held smaller demonstrations at other locations in the capital after police blocked access to the planned venue. Notable figures among those detained were CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, and its allies Dhruv Rathee and Neha Bora. Major political figures were also detained during the protest, including, Arvind Kejriwal, Pinarayi Vijayan, Manik Sarkar, Mamata Banerjee, Atishi Marlena, Brinda Karat and John Brittas. Most detainees were released the same day. Protestors were boarded on bus and sent to various stadiums in Delhi for processing detention.
On 10 October, the United Nations human rights office expressed concern about the detentions and called for respect for peaceful assembly. India rejected the criticism as interference in its internal affairs and said that peaceful assembly was constitutionally protected, subject to lawful restrictions.
On 11 October 2026, advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi filed a detailed petition, accusing the government of the violation of the Supreme Court's 9 October order, closing 45 Delhi Metro stations, completely cancelling inbound passenger trains, and shutting down mobile internet around protest zones. He claimed it to be a deliberate attempt to prevent public dissent and ease police crackdown. Tushar Mehta defended the government, mentioning that the there was no complete restriction on transport and communication.[needs update]
CJP's national organisation in-charge, Ajinkya Shinde, announced that the group would continue its campaign and called for another march to Jantar Mantar at 10 am on 11 October. The leading members of CJP, Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were released from detention on 11 October under surety bond of ₹50,000 for peaceful conduct following which CJP decided to march to the Parliamentary street police station on 12 October for seeking a date for conducting protests while other organizations attempted continuing protests. Hours after CJP submitted its request, Jantar Mantar was denotified as protest site and three alternative protest sites were notified — Ramlila Maidan, CBD Ground and Burari Ground.
On 13 October 2026, CJP members, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka along with 12 other party members, climbed past locked gates and barricades into Jantar Mantar and waved the national flag chanting slogans demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation in defiance of denotification of Jantar Mantar as protest site. They were shortly detained again and sent to five days of judicial custody in Tihar Jail, following FIRs for trespassing, disobedience of official orders and obstruction of police personnel on duty. CJP denounced their arrest and announced 'Lehra Do Tiranga' lit.'Fly the tricolour flag' protest by waving the national flag, in response.
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