The anti-CEC protests are part of a nationwide agitation demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and a review of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The movement gained momentum in late September 2026 after an Indian Express investigation reported that the two other election commissioners had raised objections to several SIR-related decisions, intensifying opposition allegations of voter-list manipulation and partisan conduct. The Election Commission and the BJP have denied these allegations, calling the protests politically motivated.
The Congress-led INDIA bloc initially organised demonstrations across states from September 25, demanding Kumar’s resignation, a rollback of the SIR and accountability for alleged electoral irregularities. The agitation later drew participation from the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), founded by Abhijeet Dipke, and student organisations, including AISA, SFI and DYFI. Protesters held marches, sit-ins and flash demonstrations, and adopted a “Jail Bharo” strategy after police denied permission for larger gatherings.
The protests escalated on October 10 and 11, when the CJP called for a “Chalo Delhi” mobilisation at Jantar Mantar. Heavy police deployment, detentions and restrictions on public movement drew further criticism. Opposition leaders raised concerns over the right to peaceful protest and electoral accountability.
This photostory documents the protests through photographs, capturing the demonstrations, police deployment, detentions and the people who took to the streets to demand accountability from the Election Commission.
