Dhruv Rathee Joins Bengaluru Protest Against Voter Roll Revision
YouTuber and political commentator Dhruv Rathee has arrived in Bengaluru and is joining a protest against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls at Freedom Park on Thursday.
The protest, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party and associated civil-society and youth groups, is focused on concerns over the ongoing revision of voter lists and allegations that eligible voters could be wrongly removed. Rathee confirmed his participation in a video message after organisers announced him as a special guest.
Rathee has urged young people to attend the Bengaluru demonstration, describing the mobilisation as a fight concerning democracy. He has also called on people in Delhi to participate in another protest planned at Jantar Mantar on October 10.
Actor and activist Prakash Raj had earlier announced Rathee’s participation, calling him the special guest for the Bengaluru event. Prakash Raj is also expected to participate in the protest alongside other activists and civil-society representatives.
The programme at Freedom Park includes a People’s Tribunal on the Special Intensive Revision. Organisers say the tribunal will hear accounts from people who claim they were wrongly removed from electoral rolls during the revision process.
A separate demonstration described by organisers as a “Chappal Protest” is also planned following the tribunal. The programme was scheduled to begin at 10:30 am on October 8.
The controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision has expanded into a nationwide political dispute. Opposition parties and civil-society groups have accused the Election Commission of risking the exclusion of eligible voters, while the Election Commission has defended the revision process as an effort to maintain accurate electoral rolls.
The allegations have also reached the courts. The Supreme Court is examining challenges connected with the functioning of the Election Commission and aspects of the Special Intensive Revision, although allegations of wrongdoing have not been judicially established.
Bengaluru has emerged as a significant centre of the dispute after allegations concerning the bulk submission of Form 7 applications for voter deletions. An FIR was recently registered in the city over allegations involving thousands of voter records in the Jayanagar constituency. The allegations remain under investigation.
The Election Commission and the BJP have rejected allegations that the voter-roll revision is politically motivated. The commission maintains that the exercise is intended to identify duplicate, deceased and otherwise ineligible entries while protecting the voting rights of eligible citizens.
Rathee’s participation brings a prominent digital voice to the Bengaluru campaign and is expected to draw additional attention from younger voters and social-media audiences.
The protest is part of a broader series of demonstrations taking place across India over the electoral-roll revision and demands concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have separately been protesting in Delhi and demanding Kumar’s resignation.
With demonstrations now extending across cities and involving political parties, activists and public figures, the dispute over the voter-roll revision is becoming an increasingly prominent national debate over electoral procedures, voter rights and the functioning of India’s election machinery.
