Opposition leaders, student organisations and civil society groups gathered outside the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters on Sunday (November 1, 2026) to protest alleged electoral irregularities and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The demonstration concluded peacefully after several political leaders addressed the gathering and protesters raised slogans, with organisers deciding to disperse without proceeding with the planned march towards Mantralaya.
The protest, held under the banner of ‘A Walk to Defend Our Democracy’, followed a call by Tushar Gandhi, leader of Hum Bharat Ke Log. Participants had assembled near the Sir Pherozeshah Mehta statue opposite Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) at 4.30 pm, with plans to proceed to the Mahatma Gandhi statue near Mantralaya.
The gathering was held in solidarity with demonstrations taking place in Delhi and other parts of the country over allegations of electoral manipulation and concerns surrounding the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Earlier in the day, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Maneesh Kalwaniya said, “Permission has not been granted for the protest.” Police did not intervene as protesters addressed the gathering near the statue, but personnel were prepared to detain participants if they attempted to proceed with the march.
A senior police officer said restrictions on demonstrations in south Mumbai were based on directions issued by the Bombay High Court following concerns over public inconvenience and disruption. The court had also emphasised the need for prior permission and adherence to designated protest locations during proceedings concerning Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil’s agitation in Mumbai. The officer said police were required to enforce the applicable restrictions, particularly in Zones 1 and 2.
Communist Party of India (CPI) Maharashtra Secretariat member Prakash Reddy said the gathering was intended as a peaceful demonstration in support of the wider protests. “We wanted to have a peaceful demonstration, and they allowed us. We appreciate that. We don’t want to disrupt traffic or create any chaos,” he said.
Reddy demanded Kumar’s resignation and arrest, alleging that the SIR exercise was being misused to exclude eligible voters. He also described the turnout as encouraging, saying, “People have responded beyond that symbolism. So, it’s a success.”
The restrictions on the proposed march prompted questions from civil society representatives about the right to protest in public spaces. Ali Bhojani of Hum Bharat Ke Log questioned Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti over what he described as unequal treatment of political demonstrations.
Referring to a march allegedly undertaken by Union Minister Piyush Goyal between Borivali and Malad, Bhojani asked why similar permission could not be granted to ordinary citizens. “The rule should be equal for everybody, whether it is a common man or a Central Minister. You have to work according to the Constitution, not according to your political boss,” he said.
Bhojani also criticised the restrictions confining demonstrations to Azad Maidan, arguing that the designated space had become inadequate and isolated from decision-makers. He urged the Bombay High Court to reconsider the restrictions and designate additional protest locations, including the area near the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Mantralaya, warning that protesters could approach the court through a public interest litigation.
Samajwadi Party Maharashtra president and MLA Abu Asim Azmi accused the BJP-led government of undermining democratic institutions and alleged that electoral malpractice had influenced election outcomes. He reiterated his party’s demand for elections to be conducted using ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines.
Student organisations also raised concerns over electoral transparency. Representatives of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) demanded a complete rollback of the SIR exercise, restoration of allegedly deleted voter names and the repeal of legal provisions they said protected election officials from accountability.
Sahil Parsekar, a CJP leader, highlighted the participation of younger protesters, saying students were increasingly using creative forms of expression, including poetry, satire and public performances, to raise political concerns. He said young people would continue demanding accountability from those in power.
Representatives of the CPI(M), Shiv Sena (UBT) and other organisations also expressed support for the demonstration.
CPI(M) Mumbai district secretary Shailendra Kamble thanked the police, particularly officers from Zone 1, for cooperating with the organisers during the gathering. He subsequently announced the conclusion of the protest and appealed to participants to disperse peacefully.
Published – November 02, 2026 01:22 am IST
