Politics · India · 4 hrs ago
Students protest electoral roll revision outside Mumbai University
Students and activists protested outside Mumbai University’s Kalina campus in Mumbai on October 23, 2026.
They called for the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and fresh elections based on earlier voter lists.
The revision is an Election Commission exercise to update voter rolls, and protesters said it could make it harder for some people to vote.
They raised particular concern about Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis and working-class voters, and questioned requirements for re-registering people whose names were removed.
The protest organisers also called for the repeal of a 2023 law governing the appointment of election commissioners.
The Supreme Court upheld the Bihar revision exercise in May 2026, while clarifying that the Commission’s checks on citizenship were only for electoral eligibility, not a final decision on citizenship.
Protesters urged wider public participation and said they would continue organising against the revision.
Students and activists protested outside the University of Mumbai’s Kalina campus on October 23, 2026, against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The demonstrators called for the revision to be withdrawn, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to be arrested, and fresh elections based on previous voter lists.
Organisers also demanded repeal of the 2023 law governing the appointment of Election Commissioners.
Protesters said the revision could threaten voting rights, especially for marginalised communities, and raised concerns about voter registration requirements.
A May 2026 Supreme Court ruling upheld the Election Commission’s authority to revise electoral rolls, while limiting its citizenship scrutiny to electoral eligibility.
- Who
- Students, activists and working professionals, including members of Disha Students’ Organisation and Bhagat Singh Jan Adhikar Yatra.
- What
- They protested against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and demanded its withdrawal, among other changes.
- When
- Friday, October 23, 2026.
- Where
- Outside the University of Mumbai’s Kalina campus.
- Why
- Protesters said the revision threatened voting rights and raised concerns about registration requirements and the Election Commission’s independence.
Protesters
Election Commission of India
Electoral roll revision
Protesters
Protesters demanded the SIR’s complete withdrawal.
Election Commission of India
The Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission’s authority to undertake electoral roll revisions.
Citizenship scrutiny
Protesters
Protesters warned that the exercise could disenfranchise marginalised voters.
Election Commission of India
The Supreme Court said citizenship scrutiny was limited to determining electoral eligibility and was not a final determination of citizenship status.
The Supreme Court upheld the validity of the SIR exercise conducted in Bihar and clarified the limits of citizenship scrutiny.
Students, activists and working professionals protested outside the University of Mumbai’s Kalina campus.
- Protest date
- October 23, 2026
- Protest location
- University of Mumbai, Kalina campus
- Organisers
- Disha Students’ Organisation and Bhagat Singh Jan Adhikar Yatra
- Main demand
- Complete withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision
- Supreme Court ruling
- May 27, 2026