Gujarat

Gujarat Congress held a protest in Ahmedabad on Thursday, asking for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Similar protests by opposition parties have been taking place in Delhi over the past three days.

The protest was held near the statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in Sarangpur. Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda, Ahmedabad city Congress president Sonal Patel and many other party leaders were present.

Protesters shouted slogans demanding Kumar's resignation, protection of voting rights and elections through ballot papers. A sit-in was also held alongside the main protest.

Leaders raise concerns over recent action

Chavda called October 7 a "black day". He raised serious concern over the action taken against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the protests in the national capital. He asked citizens to come together to protect constitutional and democratic rights.

The protests come as opposition parties demand CEC Kumar's resignation over concerns about the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Election Commission has rejected these allegations. It stated that no political party had formally asked for an appointment through authorised representatives by 4 p.m. on October 6.

Meanwhile in Delhi, opposition MPs were allowed to reach Rajghat for a short demonstration on Thursday. They had been restricted from movement on the previous two days. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders were detained while trying to march towards Jantar Mantar. FIRs were registered against both leaders over Wednesday's protest.

Gujarat State Election Commission has issued an important clarification for polling staff. Your duty does not end when voting stops. It ends only after all election material is handed over and documented.

This notice comes right before the October 11 elections covering Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation, Okha and Thara municipalities, along with by-elections to seven vacant seats across various local bodies. It is a practical call that removes any confusion for polling officers about when they can wrap up.

What Comes Next

Gujarat Congress has raised concerns about voter names printed in a South Indian language instead of Gujarati on the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation voter rolls. The party does not buy any explanation for this and says it puts a question mark on the whole list.

Gujarat election officials have started a new effort to find voters who were dropped from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR. More than 68 lakh names were deleted in the process. That is a big number, and protests have followed.

Special camps will run at all polling stations on four Sundays: October 11, October 18, October 25 and November 1. Booth Level Officers and election officials will sit at polling stations from 10 am to 5 pm. Voters can file claims and objections right there.

Gujarat SIR numbers at a glance

The campaign compares old and new voter lists to spot eligible voters missed during SIR. It also aims to enrol new eligible voters. Complaints over Form-7 deletions filed without voters' knowledge have added fuel to the fire. Demands for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation have grown louder.

• Status before SIR: 5,08,43,436
• Reduction at draft stage: 73,73,327
• Draft voter list: 4,34,70,109
• Additions after draft: 9,56,121
• Deletions after draft: 3,95,555
• Final voter list: 4,40,30,725
• Reduction compared with earlier list: 68,12,711

Source: Gujarat Samachar

Gujarat Election Department has announced a special voter registration drive for people who missed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and for first-time voters aged 18 to 19.

If you're eligible, you can fill out Form-6 at any polling station in the state. Booth Level Officers and designated officials will be there on four Sundays: October 11, 18, 25 and November 1, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Bring your identity and address proof along.

After the SIR update on February 17, 4,40,30,725 voters were on record. About 9.56 lakh names were added while nearly 4 lakh were deleted. Before SIR, Gujarat had 5,08,43,436 registered voters.

Chief Electoral Officer Sandeep Sagale said no official appeal has been filed with any Collector against the deletions so far. However, the Chief Election Commissioner pointed out that many people may not know about the appeal process.

During local body elections, several voters in areas like Ramol-Hathijan, Science City and Bopal in Ahmedabad reported their names were missing from the rolls. In Vadodara, one candidate's name was deleted and their nomination was cancelled.

What To Do If Your Name Is Missing

Check the voter list now. Apply before the last date and get your name back on the voter list.

Actress Shabana Azmi has called for a public protest in Mumbai over concerns about voter list issues. Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) is organising the demonstration at Shivaji Park on Gandhi Jayanti.

What the Protest Demands

Voters in Mumbai are joining forces to demand answers from Election Commission about how voter lists are being managed. Protesters have also raised concerns about the conduct of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Shivaji Park will see a big gathering of citizens over transparency in the electoral process. The protest comes as questions about voter list accuracy are being noticed across the country.

The movement points out how important clean voter lists are for free and fair elections in India.

Mumtaz Patel was detained during a protest against the Election Commission in Bharuch, Gujarat on 29 September 2026.

What we know so far

Details about why the protest happened and what charges were filed are still coming in. The detention happened as people in the region grew more worried about election-related issues.

Source: Gujarat Samachar

Ahmedabad Congress organised a Janakrosh Padyatra to protest voter rights issues raised by Election Commission. Party workers marched through the streets, demanding fair and clear voter list management.

The march pointed out problems with voter registration and how Election Commission handles citizens' right to vote. Congress leaders asked Election Commission to fix voter complaints quickly and make sure every eligible voter is on the electoral rolls.

Why This Matters

Protests like this show that people across Gujarat care more and more about getting voter lists right and keeping elections clear.

Mumtaz Patel was taken into police custody during a protest against the Election Commission in Bharuch, Gujarat.

The protest was held over issues linked to the Election Commission. Police arrested Mumtaz Patel while the demonstration was still going on.

Details about what the protesters were demanding and what happens next are not confirmed yet.

Voters in Gandhinagar should mark their calendars. State Election Commission set October 11 as the date for the Municipal Corporation election. Voting happens from 7am to 6pm.

If a booth needs a repoll, it will happen on October 12. Final results will be out on October 13. The process starts with a notification on September 21, and nominations close on September 26.

Additional voting details

Along with this election, voting will happen for Okha and Thara municipalities. Byelections for seats in district and taluka panchayats are also scheduled. A control room is now open to manage everything.

Voters in Gujarat are getting ready for local body elections. State Election Commission announced that polls for Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation, and the Okha and Tharad nagarpalikas, happen on October 11.

## Election schedule

Vote counting takes place on October 13. Officials confirmed the election notification releases on September 21. Candidates must file nominations by September 26. The last date to withdraw is September 29.

Voting uses electronic voting machines. This cycle also includes bye-elections for seven vacant seats in district and taluka panchayats. Residents should check official updates as the state prepares for these elections.

Gujarat State Election Commission announced polling dates for Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation, Okha Municipality, and Dwarka Municipality. Voting will take place on October 11, 2026. The commission also included by-elections for seven vacant seats in local bodies, such as Kheralu, Chhota Udepur, Bayad, and different panchayats.

Voting information

Model Code of Conduct is now active in these areas. Bring your Elector Photo Identity Card to the booth. If you do not have it, the commission accepts other valid identity documents. Polling takes place using Electronic Voting Machines between 7 am and 5 pm. Votes will be counted on October 13, 2026.