Demonstrators demand halt to SIR, accuse election chief of vote theft.
TBS Report
23 October, 2026, 05:15 pm
Last modified: 23 October, 2026, 05:19 pm
Delhi Police detained several protesters today (23 October) as a march opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls moved towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters in central Delhi.
The march, organised by the citizens' collective Delhi Coordination Committee of People Against SIR, began near Gole Dak Khana at the intersection of Kalibari Marg and Bhai Vir Singh Marg. Participants carried the national flag and banners demanding an end to the electoral roll revision exercise.
Protesters raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, including "Gyanesh Kumar, resign", "Halt SIR" and "Won't tolerate vote theft". They alleged that the revision exercise had led to the deletion of numerous voters from electoral rolls.
Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) and the Students' Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPI(M), backed the demonstration. Activists from Delhi, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh also took part.
Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat joined the march.
Security was tightened near Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, where Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were deployed in large numbers ahead of the demonstration.
Meanwhile, the Indian Home Ministry has extended for a second time the deployment of 2,730 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel in Delhi, keeping them in place until 31 October.
The extension follows concerns over the possibility of "flash protests" by political and other groups, official sources said.