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People Against SIR (PA-SIR), a platform comprising civil society organisations, students’ groups, farmers’ organisations, workers and activists, has announced a nationwide campaign of protests from November 26 to December 20, 2026. The campaign aims to intensify opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The platform has demanded that the SIR exercise be scrapped and that the voting rights of every eligible citizen be protected.
The decision was announced following a meeting of the platform’s Working Group in New Delhi on November 12. The campaign is expected to include demonstrations, public meetings, rallies, voter-list audits, dharnas and other democratic forms of protest across the country.
1. Opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
The central objective of the campaign is to raise concerns regarding the process of revising electoral rolls. The anti-SIR platform argues that the exercise could lead to the exclusion of genuine voters and potentially deprive eligible citizens of their fundamental democratic rights.
According to the platform, the Election Commission’s recent measures to address concerns regarding the revision process are insufficient. It maintains that these steps do not adequately resolve the larger questions of transparency, accountability and alleged wrongful deletion of voters’ names.
The organisation has therefore reiterated its demand for the complete withdrawal of the SIR exercise.
2. Constitution Day Protests on November 26
The nationwide agitation will begin on November 26, which is observed as Constitution Day in India. The platform has called for large demonstrations across different states to highlight the importance of constitutional values, democratic rights and the right to vote.
The programmes will begin with readings of the Preamble to the Constitution. Farmers, workers, agricultural labourers, Adivasis, Dalits, minorities, students, youth and women’s organisations are expected to participate.
The platform intends to connect the right to vote with the right to livelihood and the protection of democratic institutions.
In Delhi, a march from Mandir Marg to Jantar Mantar has also been announced as part of the programme.
3. Human Rights Day and the Right to Protest
Another major programme is scheduled for December 10, observed internationally as Human Rights Day.
The platform plans to organise mass gatherings and demonstrations to emphasise the importance of peaceful protest as a democratic and constitutional right. It has also demanded that Jantar Mantar in New Delhi be re-notified as an officially designated protest site.
The slogan, “Every street will be turned into Jantar Mantar”, reflects the platform’s intention to extend the campaign beyond the national capital and encourage public participation across the country.
It has also raised concerns about alleged police restrictions, detentions and other actions against protesters.
4. Nationwide Rallies and Electoral Roll Audits
Between November 26 and December 20, the campaign will organise public meetings, rallies and voter-list audits in different states.
These audits are intended to examine electoral rolls and identify cases in which eligible voters may have been wrongly excluded. The platform plans to use the findings to create public awareness about difficulties faced by affected citizens.
Booth-level meetings will also be organised to discuss electoral rights and encourage people to verify their names in voter lists.
The initiative is expected to bring local communities, democratic organisations and civil society groups into discussions about electoral transparency and accountability.
5. Demands for Electoral Reforms
Apart from opposing SIR, the platform has raised several wider demands concerning India’s electoral system.
These include:
- Restoration of voting rights to every eligible citizen.
- Scrapping of the present SIR exercise.
- Greater transparency and accountability in electoral procedures.
- Protection of the right to peaceful protest.
- Comprehensive electoral reforms.
- Measures to reduce the influence of money and muscle power in elections.
- Consideration of proportional representation and state funding of elections.
The platform has also demanded accountability from the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, including his removal and prosecution.
These demands reflect its broader concerns about electoral integrity and the functioning of democratic institutions.
6. December 20: Final Phase of the Campaign
December 20 will mark an important concluding stage of the announced campaign. On this day, booth-level meetings will adopt resolutions urging President Droupadi Murmu to intervene in the matter and ensure the restoration of every eligible citizen’s voting rights before further elections are announced.
The platform also intends to take its concerns regarding alleged police excesses and restrictions on peaceful demonstrations to elected representatives, governance institutions, political parties and the judiciary.
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Conclusion
The anti-SIR agitation announced by People Against SIR represents an organised civil society campaign centred on electoral rights, democratic accountability and freedom of peaceful expression. Through its proposed programmes from November 26 to December 20, the platform seeks to bring electoral revision and voter exclusion concerns into wider public discussion.
The campaign will also test the ability of different social organisations to work together on issues of constitutional rights and electoral transparency. Ultimately, the debate surrounding SIR highlights the importance of ensuring accurate electoral rolls, protecting every eligible citizen’s right to vote and maintaining public confidence in India’s democratic institutions.
