Karnataka unit of INDIA bloc has announced a big protest in Bengaluru on November 5 against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad said leaders and representatives of INDIA bloc parties would participate in the demonstration. The alliance wants SIR exercise to be scrapped and Gyanesh Kumar should resign from his post as it could lead to voters not being included in electoral rolls.
The Bengaluru protest was decided at a state-level meeting of INDIA bloc alliance partners held at the Legislators' Home in Bengaluru on October 16 chaired by B.K. Hariprasad.
The meeting discussed issues related to Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, deletion of names of eligible voters and functioning of Election Commission of India.
After deliberations the alliance decided to launch a coordinated campaign across Karnataka under slogan Save the Vote Save the Country.
Hariprasad has said that right to vote is one of the pillars of democracy and no eligible citizen should be deprived of it. He alleged that around 13 crore voters have been deleted from electoral rolls across country and demanded names of eligible voters be restored.
INDIA bloc also demanded complete withdrawal of SIR exercise saying that if safeguards and transparency are not maintained then genuine voters could also get affected by it. These figures and allegations were raised by opposition leaders and remain part of political dispute over revision exercise.
The November 5 demonstration in Bengaluru will see representatives and supporters of several opposition parties. The alliance consists of Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI(ML) Liberation, Samajwadi Party and Forward Bloc among others constituent groups.
BK Hariprasad announces major protest in Bengaluru on November 5 against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. India Bloc parties will be part of this protest. #Bengaluru #Karnataka https://t.co/O03lvchllH
— Imran Khan (@KeypadGuerilla) November 3, 2026
Leaders from these parties have agreed to work together under a coordination committee which will prepare an action plan for the campaign and organise public mobilisation across Karnataka.
The alliance also had planned to participate in a major protest at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on November 1. That demonstration has taken place now too with opposition parties renewing their demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and raising questions over the electoral roll revision process.
Bengaluru protest is being seen as next big step of INDIA bloc campaign which will be extended to districts and taluks across Karnataka.
Opposition parties have questioned the transparency and implementation of SIR exercise, saying removal of eligible voters from electoral rolls could dent public confidence in democratic process.
Hariprasad has accused Election Commission of not functioning independently and said it has favoured one political party only; democratic organisations and citizens should come together to protect voting rights (regardless of political affiliation).
But the Election Commission insists revision of electoral rolls is to rectify voter lists by weeding out duplicate, ineligible and other incorrect entries.
The rift between opposition parties and poll body has therefore become a political issue INDIA wants more accountability and safeguards against exclusion of genuine voters.
The coordination committee proposed will have representatives of the alliance’s constituent parties and coordinate the campaign beyond Bengaluru. Leaders also discussed mobilising farmers, workers, women, students, young people and progressive organisations in the movement.
The slogan Save the Vote, Save the Country is likely to remain central to the campaign as well since the alliance wants to build wider public support for it.
Several leaders attended the meeting which announced the protest AICC secretary Gopinath Palaniappan, CPI(M) state secretary K. Prakash, CPI state secretary Sathi Sundaresh and Samajwadi Party state president Manjappa Yadav were present among others. Representatives of other INDIA bloc partners were also present in the discussions.
With November 5 just around the corner, Bengaluru demonstration will focus political attention on electoral roll revision and independence of constitutional institutions.
It will also give INDIA bloc an opportunity to press for scrapping SIR exercise, restoring eligible voters’ names and resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Whether it leads to any response from EC or central government remains to be seen.
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