A series of protests in the Indian capital this month has brought electoral integrity, police restrictions and the right to peaceful assembly into sharp focus, as opposition parties, student groups and civil society organisations challenge the Election Commission’s revision of voter lists.
The latest demonstration took place on Friday, 23 October, when hundreds of protesters marched towards the Election Commission of India’s headquarters, demanding the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
More than 100 people were detained, according to The Times of India. The Indian Express reported that the number exceeded 150. The march was organised by the Delhi Coordination Committee of People Against SIR, a coalition involving students, farmers, trade unions and civil society groups.
The demonstration followed several weeks of protests in central Delhi, including rallies on 2–5 October, a series of opposition-led marches from 6 October, and large gatherings on 10–11 and 16 October.
Meanwhile, a separate agitation at Jamia Millia Islamia has entered its second week, with students demanding the restoration of their elected students’ union and an announcement of election dates.
With the Congress receiving police permission for a rally at Ramlila Maidan on 1 November, the electoral-roll dispute is likely to remain a major issue in Delhi’s political debate in the coming days.
23 October: Protesters march towards Election Commission headquarters
The latest demonstration began near Gole Dak Khana in central Delhi at around 1pm on Friday.
Participants carried the national flag and banners opposing the SIR exercise. They attempted to march towards the Election Commission headquarters but encountered police barricades and a substantial security deployment.
The protesters included representatives of student organisations, farmers’ groups, trade unions and Left parties. Their demands included the scrapping of the revision exercise and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Police asked the demonstrators to disperse, citing restrictions on gatherings and disruption to traffic. As the march continued towards the Election Commission’s offices, officers detained protesters.
Reports differ on the exact number detained. The Times of India reported more than 100, while The Indian Express reported more than 150. Both accounts describe a substantial police operation in central Delhi.
After being prevented from proceeding, protesters held a sit-in that organisers described as a “People’s Parliament”.
The central issue is whether the electoral-roll revision has resulted in eligible voters being wrongly excluded. Protesters have alleged that the process has removed legitimate voters from the lists, while the Election Commission’s position on the revision must be assessed separately from the claims made at demonstrations.
The number of names removed from electoral rolls does not, by itself, establish how many eligible voters have been wrongly excluded. That requires examination of the underlying records, the reasons for deletions and the procedures available to affected voters.
The questions now facing the authorities include how errors can be identified, how quickly corrections can be made and whether eligible voters will be able to participate in upcoming elections without administrative obstacles.
How the protests developed during October
The current wave of demonstrations has unfolded in several stages, beginning with protests over the electoral-roll revision and expanding into disputes over the permitted locations for public gatherings.
2–5 October: Demonstrations and detentions
On 2 October, Gandhi Jayanti, protesters gathered in central Delhi to demand the resignation of the chief election commissioner and raise concerns about the SIR exercise.
Police barricaded routes towards Jantar Mantar, and protesters were detained.
The demonstrations continued over the following days. On 3 October, around 150 people were detained as activists attempted to return to the designated protest area, according to The Indian Express.
On 4 October, further demonstrations and detentions were reported. By 5 October, protests involving groups including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and All India Students’ Association had continued for several consecutive days.
Hindustan Times reported that more than 120 people were briefly detained during demonstrations on 4 October, while police said they had used minimum force. Protesters alleged that they had been manhandled.
The differing accounts illustrate the importance of examining both police explanations and protesters’ allegations when reporting on the use of force.
6–9 October: Opposition leaders join the mobilisation
The protests entered a new phase on 6 October, when opposition MPs attempted to march towards the Election Commission and were stopped by police barricades.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra participated in the demonstrations. Further gatherings followed in central Delhi, including a silent protest at Raj Ghat.
On 9 October, an opposition delegation met President Droupadi Murmu and submitted a memorandum outlining its objections to the electoral-roll revision and the Election Commission’s handling of the process.
The delegation’s demands included the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and changes to the legal framework governing election commissioners.
The demonstrations brought together political parties and civil society organisations with different political backgrounds but a shared demand for changes to the SIR exercise.
The Election Commission’s handling of voter registration has consequently become a wider political issue, with opposition parties questioning the safeguards available to voters and the independence of the institution.
10–11 October: Security deployment expands
Protests intensified over the weekend of 10–11 October, when the Cockroach Janta Party and student organisations mobilised demonstrators in central Delhi.
Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across several areas, while gatherings were restricted and protesters were detained.
The Indian Express reported that an estimated 6,000 people, including four former chief ministers, were detained at different locations across Delhi on 10 October. The newspaper also reported further detentions during demonstrations on 11 October.
These figures refer to reported detentions, not convictions or proof of criminal wrongdoing. The circumstances of individual detentions varied and require separate consideration.
The demonstrations continued despite the security deployment, with smaller groups gathering at different locations to raise slogans against the chief election commissioner and the electoral-roll revision.
The weekend marked a significant escalation in the dispute over the authorities’ handling of protests and the protesters’ attempts to reach designated locations.
16 October: A proposed flag march is restricted
Another major demonstration took place on 16 October, when the Cockroach Janta Party called for a “Lehra Do Tiranga” march at Central Park in Connaught Place.
The proposed gathering was intended to protest against the detention of party leaders and demand the resignation of the chief election commissioner.
Delhi Police served a notice to party founder Abhijeet Dipke prohibiting the planned march at the location. Central Park was closed to the public on 16 and 17 October.
Despite the restrictions, supporters and members of student organisations held demonstrations at Connaught Place and Mandi House. More than 100 protesters were detained, according to reports, with some accounts putting the number at around 150.
Police cited restrictions on gatherings and concerns about disruption to business activity and traffic. Protesters questioned whether they were being prevented from exercising their right to peaceful assembly.
The Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing on a plea challenging the Central Park closure on 16 October, expressing hope that the parties would resolve the situation sensibly.
The episode added another dimension to the controversy: the dispute was no longer solely about electoral rolls, but also about where citizens could gather to express their objections.
Police register 57 cases linked to October demonstrations
The legal consequences of the protests have also become a focus of attention.
According to Hindustan Times on 24 October, Delhi Police registered 57 first information reports (FIRs) relating to demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during October. The cases were transferred to the Crime Branch for investigation.
The newspaper reported that more than 10 FIRs mentioned allegations of assault on police personnel, while many others concerned alleged violations of restrictions on public gatherings under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
Some cases also named political leaders and activists.
An FIR records allegations and initiates an investigation; it does not establish guilt. The evidence collected, the circumstances of each incident and any eventual court findings will determine the outcome of the cases.
Police said investigators were examining CCTV footage, mobile-phone recordings, social media material and other evidence connected to the demonstrations.
Protest organisers and participating groups have made allegations of illegal detention and mistreatment. Those claims should be examined independently alongside the police accounts and any available medical, video or judicial evidence.
The number of cases registered, the grounds on which people were detained and the eventual outcomes of the investigations are all matters of public interest.
Jamia Millia Islamia: Students demand restoration of union elections
The electoral-roll demonstrations are not the only protests to have drawn attention in Delhi this month.
At Jamia Millia Islamia, students have been holding an indefinite hunger strike since 12 October, demanding the restoration of the university’s students’ union and an official schedule for elections.
The union was dissolved in 2006, and students have argued that an elected representative body is necessary to raise concerns about university policies and student welfare.
The demands also include the withdrawal of disciplinary action against protesting students and changes to the university’s administrative arrangements.
On 23 October, the agitation intensified after police detained people near the campus, including Congress MP Imran Masood. Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi was also detained while travelling to meet protesters and was subsequently released, according to reports.
The following day, 24 October, the university announced that classes would move online until further notice, citing concerns about students’ safety.
The administration has said a committee has been established to draft a constitution for the students’ union and has urged the protesters to end their hunger strike. Students have continued to demand a clear timetable for elections.
The dispute raises questions about student representation, the administration’s authority to regulate campus demonstrations and the steps needed to restore normal academic activity.
The university’s explanation and the students’ account of the confrontation should both be included in any further reporting.
1 November: Congress receives permission for rally at Ramlila Maidan
The next major confirmed political demonstration in Delhi is scheduled for Sunday, 1 November.
Delhi Police has granted permission for the Congress to hold a rally at Ramlila Maidan as part of the party’s campaign against the SIR exercise and its demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
The police issued a no-objection certificate covering the venue for the period from 25 October to 3 November, according to The Indian Express.
Congress leaders have invited other INDIA bloc parties to participate in the gathering. The rally forms part of a wider campaign that includes public meetings, outreach to voters and demands for changes to the electoral-roll revision process.
The expected participation of opposition parties, the scale of the gathering and any announcements made by political leaders will be important developments to follow.
However, permission for a rally does not establish how many people will attend or whether the event will proceed without disruption. Those details should be confirmed closer to the date.
The reports reviewed for this article confirm the 1 November rally. They do not establish a separate confirmed Delhi protest scheduled for 11 November.
What happens next?
The protests have raised three related but distinct questions.
The first concerns electoral registration: whether the SIR process has wrongly excluded eligible voters, what evidence supports individual complaints and how voters can correct errors.
The second concerns public order and peaceful assembly. Authorities have cited restrictions on gatherings, traffic and security, while protesters have challenged the limits imposed on demonstrations.
The third concerns institutional accountability. Opposition parties are demanding the chief election commissioner’s resignation, while the Election Commission’s actions and explanations need to be examined against the relevant rules, records and evidence.
These issues cannot be resolved by counting demonstrations or detentions alone. They require scrutiny of electoral records, transparent investigations into alleged misconduct and clear information about the legal grounds for restrictions on public gatherings.
The 1 November rally will provide another opportunity for opposition parties to press their demands. Whether the mobilisation produces negotiations or further confrontation remains uncertain.
For now, Delhi’s October protests reflect a continuing dispute over electoral procedures and the boundaries of public dissent. The next developments will depend on how political parties, the Election Commission, police and affected citizens respond to the questions raised.