Karnataka Election Commission Office Sees Protests Demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation

Bengaluru, Karnataka – Protests have erupted outside the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Karnataka, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstrations, which have involved various groups including citizens, activists, and political parties, center on allegations of irregularities and lack of transparency in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The protests have seen participants stage symbolic actions, including mock ‘funeral rites for democracy,’ to express their discontent. Demonstrators accuse the Election Commission of India (ECI) of failing in its constitutional duty to protect citizens’ voting rights, citing concerns over the alleged arbitrary deletion of millions of eligible voters. Legal activists have highlighted that these deletions disproportionately affect vulnerable socio-economic groups and minority communities, and have raised issues regarding the opacity of digital portals used for voter registration processes.

The core of the allegations revolves around the SIR exercise, with protesters claiming that mass deletions have occurred without adequate field verification, prior notice, or transparent dispute redressal mechanisms. Specific concerns have been raised regarding the processing of forms such as Form 6, Form 7, and Form 8, with claims that automated systems for duplicate detection may be purging legitimate voters. Official clarifications from the election authority have reportedly failed to assuage these growing concerns.

Political parties, particularly the Congress and its affiliated student wing, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), have been at the forefront of these protests. The Congress has organized rallies and demonstrations across Karnataka, including in Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Chitradurga, Vijayapura, and Kalaburagi. Protesters have raised slogans against the Union Government and the Election Commission, demanding Kumar’s immediate resignation and, in some instances, his arrest.

Reports indicate that the protests have sometimes led to detentions by the police, with demonstrators alleging manhandling and other forms of mistreatment. In some instances, protests have escalated to attempts to burn effigies of political figures, resulting in scuffles with law enforcement. The police have stated that actions were taken to maintain law and order and in accordance with legal provisions.

Further fueling the protests are media investigations and reports suggesting internal disagreements within the Election Commission itself. Citing media reports, party leaders have alleged that CEC Gyanesh Kumar has made decisions without the concurrence of the other two Election Commissioners, despite their recorded objections. These objections reportedly pertain to changes in statutory voter registration forms and the centralization of control over the electoral roll database.

While the Election Commission has asserted that its official orders and decisions have full legal sanction and that differing views are a normal part of institutional deliberations, the protesters remain unconvinced. They argue that the current exercise risks becoming a process of excluding voters rather than ensuring the accuracy of electoral rolls and have called for the entire SIR process to be scrapped.

The protests have also drawn participation from civil society groups, student organizations, activists, and digital influencers, who have gathered at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. Their demands include the withdrawal of the revision drive, the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, and in some cases, a return to paper ballots, citing concerns that the ongoing verification process lacks transparency and risks excluding genuine voters ahead of future elections.

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