Actor-activist Prakash Raj and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee joined a protest at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on Thursday against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The demonstration, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) under the banner of a “People’s Tribunal”, called for the SIR exercise to be withdrawn and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protest was led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke.
Protesters raised slogans such as “SIR radd karo” and “Gyanesh Kumar gaddi chhodo”, alleging irregularities and lack of transparency in the voter-list revision process. Women, students and members of civil-society groups also participated in the demonstration.
Addressing the gathering, Prakash Raj criticised the SIR exercise and alleged that eligible voters were facing difficulties in retaining their names on electoral rolls. He said the issue was about protecting citizens’ voting rights and demanded that the revision process be withdrawn.
Prakash Raj further alleged that disadvantaged communities, including Adivasis, economically weaker sections and minorities, could be affected by the exercise. These allegations have not been independently verified.
He also said the demand should not be limited to the resignation of one Election Commission official. “If he goes, someone else will come,” he said, calling instead for an investigation into the allegations surrounding the SIR process.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the campaign was aimed at raising concerns over alleged voter deletions and protecting democratic rights. He claimed that a large number of names had been removed from electoral rolls, although the figure could not be independently verified.
Dhruv Rathee, who also addressed the gathering, criticised the Election Commission over what he described as a lack of transparency and accountability. He clarified that his participation was not aimed at demanding a change of government.
The CJP has announced further programmes as part of its campaign, including a women’s solidarity march and a planned “chappal protest”. Organisers have also appealed to participants to bring slippers, which they said would subsequently be donated to people in need.
The Bengaluru protest is part of a wider campaign planned by the organisation. The CJP has called for supporters to gather at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on October 10, with student and youth organisations, political groups and citizens expected to participate.
CJP co-convenor Saurav Das said the campaign would focus on broader electoral reforms rather than only seeking the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner.
Note: The allegations made by protesters regarding voter deletions, political influence and irregularities in the SIR process are claims made at the demonstration and have not been independently verified.