BENGALURU: A group of citizens claiming to have been affected by the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is expected to testify at a People’s Tribunal in Bengaluru, turning individual voter complaints into the centrepiece of a growing campaign against the revision exercise.
The tribunal, organised at Freedom Park by the Cockroach Janta Party and associated youth and civil society groups, has brought together CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and actor-activist Prakash Raj.
Organisers say the event will allow people from different districts of Karnataka to describe problems they allegedly encountered during the SIR process. Their focus is particularly on people who claim that their names were removed from electoral rolls.
The organisers have described the gathering as a way to document such complaints and increase public awareness about the consequences of changes to voter lists.
Prakash Raj has urged citizens to attend the event, while Rathee confirmed his participation in a video shared on social media. Both have become prominent voices in the Bengaluru mobilisation.
The event is significant because voter-list revision is not simply an administrative exercise. Electoral rolls determine who can participate in elections, making accuracy and inclusion central to the credibility of the democratic process.
Critics of SIR have raised concerns about eligible voters being excluded. Supporters of the electoral process, however, argue that revisions are necessary to maintain accurate voter lists and remove errors.
The tribunal is intended to focus on the experiences of citizens rather than only political statements. According to organisers, people who believe they have been affected will have an opportunity to explain their cases publicly.
The tribunal will be followed by a “chappal protest”, which organisers have linked to concerns involving women’s safety and solidarity with women journalists.
The Bengaluru mobilisation comes at a particularly tense moment in Delhi. Opposition parties have launched consecutive demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among several Opposition leaders detained after protesters attempted to proceed towards Jantar Mantar. The confrontation led to further legal action by Delhi Police.
Three FIRs were registered in connection with Wednesday’s protest, police said. The cases include allegations of assault on police personnel, obstruction of government work, pushing, manhandling and misbehaviour.
The Gandhis are also facing a separate FIR connected with Tuesday’s protest, when Opposition MPs entered the Akashvani Bhavan premises after their march towards the Election Commission was stopped. Police said the entry was unauthorised.
Rahul Gandhi has responded by saying that additional FIRs will not stop the Opposition campaign. Congress leaders have argued that the demonstrations are intended to defend electoral rights and raise concerns over alleged irregularities.
As protests continue, the Bengaluru tribunal could become an important public forum for the wider SIR debate. The testimonies presented there may shape political discussion and public understanding of how the revision exercise has affected individual voters.
For the organisers, the message is clear: electoral roll revision must not leave eligible citizens without an effective voice.
