Why India’s voter-roll revision row sparked nationwide protests: All you need to know

India is witnessing one of its largest opposition-backed protests of 2026, with demonstrations spreading across major cities over concerns about a nationwide voter-roll verification exercise known as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Protesters argue the process could disenfranchise legitimate voters, while the Election Commission of India (ECI) insists it is aimed solely at improving the accuracy of electoral rolls. Here’s a look at key questions involved. What is happening in India? Thousands of people have taken to the streets in New Delhi, Mumbai and other cities demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Protesters allege that the nationwide voter-roll revision could disenfranchise legitimate voters and undermine the electoral process, giving undue advantage to the ruling party at the centre. The demonstrations have brought together opposition parties, student groups, civil-society activists and youth movements. The focus is the ECI's voter-roll verification programme, known as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which the ECI says is designed to remove duplicate, deceased and otherwise ineligible names from the rolls. The controversy intensified after reports of alleged disagreements within the ECI over aspects of the voter-roll revision. Opposition demands greater transparency and accountability from the commission and the CEC. Security personnel stand guard at the barricades as they watch supporters of different political parties march toward the Supreme Court demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi, India, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. (AP) Large numbers of police have been deployed during protests in the capital New Delhi. The authorities have tried many ways to prevent the gatherings – including blocking the internet and messaging apps, shutting down the railway, Delhi Metro and other transport services. The capital was turned into a virtual fortress with barricades set up in all important areas. Access to Jantar Mantar, a popular protest site in the heart of the city, has been denied to the protesters . Many demonstrators were detained after attempting to march in restricted areas. They were forcibly put in police buses, which allegedly circled the city for hours, and the protesters were then dumped kilometres away. Protesters say police used disproportionate force on them, and videos of students showing their injuries are flooding social media. Opposition leaders accuse the government of suppressing dissent, while authorities say security measures are needed to maintain public order. The issue has evolved into a broader debate over electoral integrity, the independence of democratic institutions and public trust in the system that oversees elections in the world's most populous democracy. With legal challenges under way and protests continuing, it has become one of India's most significant political event of 2026. Why are demonstrators taking to the streets? At the centre of the protests is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR ), a nationwide voter-roll verification exercise. Around 130 million names have been removed from the voting list across India, according to reports. While the Election Commission says they fall under ASDD (Absent, Shifted, Diseased, and Duplicate), the protesters, opposition parties and civil-society groups argue that the process has removed legitimate voters. They argue this has affected poll results in many states in favour of the ruling BJP front. The opposition has also questioned the transparency of the exercise, including how voters are selected for verification, the criteria used to remove names from electoral rolls and the process available to challenge exclusions. The documentation requirements have affected poorer and more vulnerable groups even though they were eligible, they say. Supporters of the opposition parties march to the Supreme Court in protest against a controversial revision of voter lists that has sparked days of unrest, in New Delhi, India, October 12, 2026. (Reuters) Calls for the CEC’s resignation intensified after reports of alleged internal disagreements within the Election Commission over aspects of the SIR. According to reports, concerns were raised by other commissioners about decisions linked to the exercise. Opposition parties have accused the ECI of actions that have benefited the ruling BJP, arguing that any large-scale revision of voter rolls must be conducted with maximum transparency. The BJP and election authorities deny the allegations and insist the exercise has no political motive. For many young protesters, the issue extends beyond voter lists. Activists describe the movement as a broader effort to defend democratic institutions, electoral transparency and public trust in the election process. Who is the Chief Election Commissioner and why is the position important? India’s CEC Gyanesh Kumar is a retired 1988-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS)