Anti-SIR Protest March Heads Towards ECI Headquarters Amid Tight Security in Delhi

Anti-SIR Protest March Moves Towards Election Commission Headquarters

A protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls began in central Delhi on Friday, October 23, with demonstrators heading towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters to oppose alleged voter deletions.

The march was organised by the Delhi Coordination Committee of People Against SIR, a collective of organisations and activists campaigning against the electoral roll revision exercise. Participants carried national flags and banners demanding that the SIR process be halted.

The protest came amid continuing concerns raised by opposition parties and civil society groups over the potential removal of eligible voters from electoral rolls.

Heavy Security Deployment in Central Delhi

Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were deployed in large numbers as the march proceeded through central Delhi. Security was particularly tightened near Bangla Sahib Gurudwara and along the route towards the ECI headquarters.

The march began near Gole Dak Khana, at the intersection of Kalibari Marg and Bhai Vir Singh Marg. Police stopped the protesters as they moved towards their destination, and several participants were detained.

Reports also said that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were imposed, restricting mass gatherings in the area.

Protesters Raise Slogans Against Chief Election Commissioner

Demonstrators raised slogans such as “Gyanesh Kumar, resign”, “Halt SIR” and “Won't tolerate vote theft”. They alleged that the revision exercise had resulted in the deletion of numerous voters from electoral rolls and called for accountability from the Election Commission.

The protesters included students, young activists, farmers and members of various civil society organisations. Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat also joined the demonstration, while organisations such as the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) extended their support.

The allegations regarding voter deletions reflect the protesters' position and should not be treated as independently established findings about the revision process.

Protesters Hold a ‘People’s Parliament’

After police stopped the march, participants sat down and held a gathering they called a “People's Parliament”, in line with the organisers' announced plan.

The organisers said the demonstration would remain peaceful and disciplined. They planned to adopt resolutions and conclude the programme with the national anthem.

The protest also reflected wider concerns among participating groups about the ability to organise demonstrations at designated protest sites and express opposition to government and electoral decisions.

Protests Planned Across 88 Cities

According to the People Against SIR collective, demonstrations had been planned in 88 cities across 18 states, involving 145 organisations. The campaign included programmes scheduled from October 23 through November 1.

The organisers appealed to farmers, workers, students, women and other sections of society to join the demonstrations. The SFI also called for solidarity protests in central Delhi and at district headquarters.

These plans indicate that opposition to the SIR exercise extends beyond the national capital, although the scale and participation of individual demonstrations may vary by location.

Traffic Diversions Announced in Central Delhi

The Delhi Traffic Police introduced diversions from 1 pm to 5 pm on Friday in view of the march and the expected movement of large crowds.

Commuters were warned of possible congestion around:

• Bangla Sahib Gurudwara

• Connaught Place

• Parliament Street

• Jantar Mantar

The traffic police advised people to avoid unnecessary travel through the affected areas, plan journeys in advance, use alternative routes where possible and follow instructions from traffic personnel.

What Is the SIR Exercise?

The Special Intensive Revision is an electoral roll revision exercise intended to review and update voter lists. The process has become politically contentious, with critics expressing concern about eligible voters potentially being excluded and the need for transparency in verification procedures.

Protest organisers are demanding that the exercise be halted, arguing that it threatens voting rights. The Election Commission's procedures and the handling of individual voter records remain central to the dispute.

Any claim that a particular voter has been wrongly removed needs to be assessed against the relevant electoral records and applicable procedures.

Key Takeaways

• An anti-SIR protest march moved towards the ECI headquarters in central Delhi on October 23, 2026.

• The demonstration was organised by the Delhi Coordination Committee of People Against SIR.

• Delhi Police and RAF personnel were deployed in large numbers, and several protesters were detained after police stopped the march.

• Protesters raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demanded that the SIR exercise be halted.

• Organisers said protests were planned in 88 cities across 18 states.

• Traffic diversions were imposed from 1 pm to 5 pm around key central Delhi locations.