Scrap SIR, go back to old voters list: Prakash Raj

Veteran actor and political activist Prakash Raj has demanded that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls be scrapped and the voters list be restored to its previous form across the country, by undoing the 13 crore deletions.

In view of serious lapses in SIR process recently unearthed, Mr. Prakash Raj also demanded that the constitution of the selection committee for Election Commission as amended by way of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, should be reverted and the judicial immunity granted to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) be scrapped. Criminal cases should be filed against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and CEC Gyanesh Kumar. He also demanded that the Supreme Court obtain all files from the Election Commission since 2023 immediately and examine each of them.

Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad on Saturday (October 3, 2026), he spoke about an investigation carried by him in 100 booths across 23 districts of Karnataka, which revealed a large number of voters who were arbitrarily deleted from the rolls, which included a colony displaced by a fire accident, and transgenders who did not have a fixed name or permanent address.

“Should people decide who is to be in power or will you decide who can vote?” he questioned the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo whom he repeatedly referred to as Ranga-Billa. He also questioned the political parties in opposition for not rising against the faulty SIR process.

Actor and social activist Prakash Raj speaking at a media interaction on Special Intensive Revision (SIR), at the Press Club, Khairatabad, in Hyderabad on Saturday (October 3, 2026)
| Video Credit:
RAMAKRISHNA G

Poor people, Adivasi and woman were at the receiving end in the ongoing SIR, Mr. Prakash Raj pointed out and wondered if the centre is trying to implement Manusmriti .

He questioned the haste with which the Election Commission is carrying out the process, and the Supreme Court allowing the process. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Appellate Tribunals in West Bengal got 88 lakh petitions against removal of votes, and it would take 12-15 years for the tribunal to go through them all, he said and questioned if all these voters would be deprived of their voting right till the cases are settled. The report on SIR sought by Supreme Court within two weeks has not been filed even after 15 weeks, he said.

Replacement of the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee of ECI with a Union Cabinet Minister, and judicial immunity granted to the present CEC Gyanesh Kumar were part of the conspiracy to use the ECI for political advantage, Mr.Prakash Raj alleged. Mr.Gyanesh Kumar acted as per their wishes, curbing the powers of the Electoral Registration Officers despite majority members opposing it.

The thespian who entered public life after assassination of his close associate and journalist Gauri Lankesh, faced several questions from the media persons about his political ambitions, but strongly denied any such plans. He said it is everybody’s duty to raise voice against injustice. He rubbished claims that he had vote at four different places, as right wing propaganda.

A group of BJP workers gathered outside the venue and raised slogans against Mr.Prakash Raj before the media conference began.

Actor and social activist Prakash Raj speaking at a media interaction on Special Intensive Revision (SIR), at the Press Club, Khairatabad, in Hyderabad on Saturday (October 3, 2026)
| Video Credit:
RAMAKRISHNA G