INDIA BLOC TO STAGE BENGALURU PROTEST ON NOVEMBER 5, DEMANDS SCRAPPING OF SIR AND RESIGNATION OF CEC GYANESH KUMAR

November 3, 2026

BENGALURU, November 3, 2026: The INDIA bloc has announced a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on November 5 against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Opposition alliance has accused the BJP of misusing constitutional institutions and has demanded the CEC's resignation.

Announcing the demonstration at a press conference at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office on Tuesday, state Congress chief B.K. Hariprasad said the protest would form part of the alliance's nationwide agitation against the SIR exercise. The Bengaluru demonstration will continue the campaign launched at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on November 1.

Hariprasad said INDIA bloc leaders had decided to intensify the movement and extend it to taluk and block levels across the country. In Karnataka, the agitation will begin with the state-level demonstration in Bengaluru, followed by protests in districts and taluks.

He alleged that the BJP and the RSS were attempting to undermine democratic institutions through their alleged misuse of constitutional bodies. Hariprasad said the agitation would continue until Gyanesh Kumar resigned from the office of Chief Election Commissioner.

CPI(M) Karnataka state secretary K. Prakash outlined the alliance's principal demands, which include scrapping the SIR exercise, securing the CEC's resignation and democratising the process of appointing the head of the Election Commission. He said the selection process should follow the directions of the Supreme Court.

Prakash also demanded the withdrawal of the law granting permanent immunity to the Chief Election Commissioner. He said the alliance would take its campaign beyond Bengaluru, with demonstrations planned at district and taluk levels across Karnataka and participation from all INDIA bloc constituents.

Prakash further alleged that the BJP was attempting to transform India into an authoritarian state and establish a communal Hindutva nation. He said the alliance intended to continue its agitation to oppose what it described as threats to democratic institutions.

CPI leader Saathi Sundaresh, Forward Bloc representatives Mahantesh Shivashankar and Ali, and CPI(ML) leader Clifton D'Rozario were among those present at the joint press conference.

The November 5 demonstration is expected to mark the beginning of a wider phase of the INDIA bloc's campaign in Karnataka, following its November 1 protest in the national capital.