Left parties demand removal of CEC, abolition of SIR

Leaders and supporters of Left parties stage a demonstration in Visakhapatnam on Friday. | Photo credit: V. RAJU

Left parties staged a demonstration at the Gandhi statue near the GVMC headquarters on Friday, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and cancellation of the Special Intensive Review (SIR) process. CPI(M) state secretariat member AV Nageswara Rao and CPI district secretary SK Rehman alleged that eligible voters were illegally removed from the voter rolls and demanded their inclusion. They claimed that SIR, which started in Bihar in June 2025, has been extended to 30 states and Union Territories. The leaders also demanded changes in the system of appointing election commissioners and the restoration of the functioning of the election commission.

Published – 02 Oct 2026 23:36 IST