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Prakash Raj, Dhruv Rathee lead mass protest against electoral irregularities

Actor-activist Prakash Raj, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and Citizens for Justice Party founder Abhijeet Dipke spearheaded a large gathering at Freedom Park on Thursday to demand the resignation of Chief Electoral Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Integrated Review of electoral rolls.

LSN India · 8 October 2026

Prakash Raj, Dhruv Rathee lead mass protest against electoral irregularities

Thousands of protesters from diverse backgrounds, including students, women's groups, and civil society representatives, converged at the venue to voice their opposition to what organisers termed systematic errors in the electoral roll revision process. The demonstration featured sustained chanting of slogans and the display of placards with messages including "Error 404 - Name Not Found," "Don't erase us, hear us," and calls for Kumar's immediate resignation. Protesters also raised concerns about potential vote manipulation and questioned the integrity of the SIR exercise itself.

According to the organisers, the gathering served as a people's tribunal bringing together alleged victims of the electoral roll irregularities from across Karnataka. The demonstration reflected broader concerns about administrative accountability and electoral transparency in the state. Organisers announced plans for follow-up action, including a solidarity march focused on women's participation in electoral processes.

The protest carried echoes of broader democratic movements, with some placards invoking historical freedom struggle symbolism. Slogans such as "Dictatorship will not be tolerated" underscored the demonstrators' perception that the electoral review process lacked proper oversight and public consultation. The show of numbers and sustained energy indicated significant public concern about potential exclusions from voter rolls and the administrative process governing electoral eligibility.