INDIA Bloc Protests in Karnataka Demand CEC Resignation

The INDIA bloc alliance held a massive protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on November 5, 2026, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Led by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President BK Hariprasad, the demonstration included Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The agitation is a continuation of a November 1 rally in Delhi and is supported by a coalition including the Congress, CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, Forward Bloc, and Samajwadi Party. Hariprasad announced that the protests will expand from district headquarters to talukas and blocks across almost all districts of Karnataka until the Chief Election Commissioner steps down.

Parallel to the Karnataka demonstrations, a dispute emerged regarding a previous anti-CEC rally in Delhi. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed the event benefited local businesses, while Brijesh Goyal, Chairman of the Chamber of Trade & Industry, asserted the rally caused disruptions that resulted in estimated losses of Rs 10,000-11,000 crore and the closure of approximately 2.5 lakh shops.