Gandhi Jayanti Showdown: Activists, CJP And INDIA Bloc Take EC-SIR Row To The Streets

Gandhi Jayanti will see multiple protest programmes across the country today as social activists, student groups and Opposition parties step up their campaign over the functioning of the Election Commission, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and concerns over voters’ rights.

In Delhi, social activists and student leaders are scheduled to gather at Jantar Mantar at 11 am, demanding greater accountability from the poll panel and action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The group includes AISA president Neha Bora, advocate Prashant Bhushan and RJD MP Manoj Jha.

The organisers have alleged procedural irregularities in electoral-roll revisions and questioned the manner in which voters are being added or removed. They have argued that the issue concerns citizens’ voting rights rather than simply a confrontation between the ruling party and the Opposition. These allegations and demands are part of the ongoing political dispute over SIR.

A key question surrounding the Delhi protest is police permission. Delhi Police had not granted approval for the proposed gathering as of the latest reports. The issue comes after more than 60 people, including Bora, Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, were detained near Jantar Mantar during a September 25 demonstration. Police had said the earlier gathering lacked the required permission.

The October 2 mobilisation in Delhi also includes a separate DYFI protest at Jantar Mantar, with the youth organisation raising issues including unemployment, vacant government posts, education, wages and housing.

In Mumbai, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a “Jail Bharo Andolan” at Shivaji Park after police denied permission for its planned October 2 demonstration.

The INDIA bloc is also launching its wider “ Save Democracy ” campaign today. The Opposition alliance has announced district-level marches and demonstrations from October 2 to 8, with youth and civil society groups being invited to participate.

The bloc has also announced an October 6 march by Opposition MPs to the Election Commission’s office in Delhi, along with further rallies and a proposed meeting with President Droupadi Murmu later this month.