Farmers, students, civil society groups and activists marched towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) office in New Delhi on Friday, October 23, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The march, organised by groups including Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), People Against SIR, the All India Students’ Association (AISA) and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), was scheduled from 1 pm to 5 pm. Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory warning of diversions around central Delhi, including Connaught Place, Parliament Street, Bangla Sahib Gurudwara and Jantar Mantar. Protesters are also seeking the restoration of voting rights to people allegedly removed from electoral rolls and greater accountability from the Election Commission.
Protesters Demand Accountability
The participating organisations have called for the scrapping of SIR, the restoration of voting rights to 13.41 crore people allegedly removed from electoral rolls, and the removal and prosecution of Gyanesh Kumar. SKM also plans to submit a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu outlining its demands. People Against SIR, a civil society initiative involving students, farmers and civil rights activists, claims that more than 300 organisations have joined its campaign.
The march was planned from multiple gathering points, including Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Gol Dak Khana and Gol Market, towards the ECI office. The protest forms part of a wider campaign questioning the electoral roll revision exercise and its implications for eligible voters. The allegations raised by protesters remain their claims and require examination through transparent processes.
Traffic Advisory: Routes To Avoid
Delhi Traffic Police announced that traffic diversions would remain in place from 1 pm to 5 pm on October 23, anticipating the movement of a large number of protesters. The advisory covers areas around Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, Connaught Place, Parliament Street and Jantar Mantar, where commuters may experience congestion and delays.
The police have advised motorists to avoid unnecessary travel on affected roads during the specified hours, plan their journeys in advance and use alternative routes wherever possible. Commuters have also been asked to follow diversion signs and instructions from traffic personnel to help maintain smooth traffic movement. Those travelling through central Delhi for work, appointments or other commitments should allow extra time for their journeys and check the latest traffic updates before leaving.
The advisory is intended to minimise disruption while allowing traffic management arrangements to respond to the anticipated crowd.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The right to vote is central to democracy, and concerns about electoral roll revisions deserve clear answers, transparency and accountability. Peaceful protests provide citizens with an important platform to raise questions, but meaningful progress also requires constructive engagement between election officials, political representatives and civil society.
Authorities should address allegations of voter exclusion through transparent verification and accessible grievance-redressal mechanisms, while protest organisers should ensure that demonstrations remain peaceful and do not put the public at risk.
At the same time, commuters affected by traffic restrictions deserve timely information and practical alternatives. Protecting democratic rights and maintaining public order should not be competing priorities. How can the Election Commission and civil society work together to resolve concerns over voter lists and strengthen public trust in
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