The clear indication is that like in the case of the NEET agitation that led to the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, popular mobilisation has led to a significant reversal of the state policy. There are enough reasons available to argue that the SIR, for all practical purposes, has been withdrawn by the ECI in the face of protests and a renewed challenge in the Supreme Court.

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Various farmers’ organisations, under the banner of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), will march to Delhi on October 23 demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

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The Supreme Court has recently issued notices to the Centre on a petition filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) challenging the lifelong immunity granted to the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners (CEC and EC) for actions taken in discharge of official duties.

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Jairam Ramesh said the ECI’s October 15, 2026, order to share “readable” electoral rolls with parties — after refusing the demand since 2018 — came because “the whole nation is on the streets against the Vote Chors.” He said CEC Gyanesh Kumar, acting on instructions from PM Modi and Home Minister Shah, “simply has to go,” and the SIR, which he said put 13 crore Indians’ voting rights at risk, must be suspended immediately.

The EC has ordered an annual Special Summary Revision (SSR) in 17 States and Union Territories, including poll-bound ones, with final rolls due January 4, 2026. Parties will get “readable” rolls at draft and final stages for the first time.

-PTI

Pedada Parameswara Rao, former Srikakulam District Congress Committee president, alleged on Saturday (October 17, 2026) that thousands of migrant labourers from the district had lost their voting rights under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), despite their families and Aadhaar addresses remaining in Srikakulam.

“It is unfair to remove their names during the SIR process... ECI must look into the issue and restore their voting right,” Mr. Rao said, adding that he had raised the matter with the party high command, noting more than 5 lakh people from the district had migrated temporarily for work.

The Indian Youth Congress (IYC), in a post on X on Sunday (October 18, 2026), alleged police brutality against students, including “ruthless beatings, threats to kill, humiliation, and mistreatment of female students.” It warned that “strict legal action” would be taken against those “indulging in thuggery in uniform under the patronage of those in power.”

The post added, “Modi-Shah too should understand — India’s youth does not fear you.”

The Supreme Court-appointed panel to investigate the incidents of violence at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and places outside the national capital in July during the NEET paper leak protests will prioritise matters related to the “use of pellet guns, targeted violence and harassment of female protesters, and excessive violence and destruction of property occasioned on either side”.

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Hundreds gathered at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Parliament Square in London on Saturday (October 17, 2026) for a protest organised by the Opposition Congress and UK-based Indian students’ groups against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

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The Congress has appointed 208 party leaders as observers to coordinate and monitor its nationwide Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao (Save Your Vote, Save The Country) campaign against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, signalling its intent to sustain the agitation against alleged vote theft.

About 26 lakh of the 33.12 lakh cases of “no-mapping” or “logical discrepancy” have been resolved during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Delhi, said on Saturday (October 17, 2026). 

“For the ease of electors, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are visiting electors for collecting supporting documents from them in cases of Logical discrepancy or Un-mapped cases. As on today, out of 33,12,919 cases of No-Mapping/Logical Discrepancy, around 26 Lakh cases have been resolved by EROs/AEROs,” the office of the CEO said in a statement. 

The office of the CEO said that SIR is under progress in Delhi with the objective that “no eligible voter to be left out of electoral roll”. -- The Hindu Bureau

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear academician and columnist Apporvanad Jha, who has submitted that equating the right of peaceful protest with a breach of peace is unwarranted and a ploy by the Central government and the Delhi Police to make preventive detentions.

The written submissions were filed additionally as part of a criminal writ petition moved by Mr. Jha, represented by senior advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan and advocate Akriti Chaubey, which challenged the legality of prohibitory orders issued by the authorities under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

The Opposition on Saturday (October 17, 2026) pushed back against the ruling party’s narrative that street protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were aimed at a Bangladesh-like regime change by creating anarchy. 

The Delhi Police has allowed the Congress to hold a rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 and issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the event, a senior police officer said on Saturday (October 17, 2026).

“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. Maybe many of us won’t be here to greet her, but on a quiet day, if I listen very carefully, I can hear her breathing.” In 2024, Neha Bora cited this quote by Arundhati Roy, calling her work a “bridge to the possibility of a different or better world”.

The CJP has warned of legal action against those allegedly responsible for keeping Ashutosh and Saurav in illegal custody, saying it has consulted senior advocate Kapil Sibal and will hold those responsible accountable if the two are not released by Sunday (October 18, 2026).

Hundreds gathered at London’s Parliament Square for a “Stop Vote Chori” protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in India. Organised by the Indian Overseas Congress Youth Wing, the demonstration was met with a counter-protest by supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Police kept the two groups apart as rival slogans echoed across the square.

The Delhi Police has allowed the Congress to hold a rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 and issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the event, a senior police officer said on Saturday (October 17, 2026).

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, who was placed under preventive arrest by the Delhi Police, was released by a Delhi court on Saturday (October 17, 2026) after signing a peace bond, even as sporadic protests, led by women activists, continued for the eighth day against the Chief Election Commissioner and police action.