YouTuber Dhruv Rathee joined the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest in Bengaluru on Thursday, where demonstrators demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Actor Prakash Raj also participated in the protest. The gathering brought together supporters and public figures raising concerns about the electoral roll revision exercise and the functioning of the poll panel. Rathee, in his first remarks at the protest, said he was not participating in the demonstration for “regime change”, according to news agency PTI. Rathee criticised the Election Commission while speaking at the protest and alleged that there was “zero transparency and zero accountability” in the poll body's handling of the SIR exercise.

His remarks focused on the need for greater clarity around the process and the manner in which electoral rolls are being revised. The SIR exercise has become a politically contentious issue, with opposition parties and other groups raising questions about its implementation and potential impact on voters. The Election Commission has maintained that electoral roll revision is part of its constitutional responsibility. The CJP has made the demand for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation a central part of its campaign against the SIR process. The Bengaluru protest was organised as part of the party's wider mobilisation around electoral and institutional issues.

Demonstrators have questioned the procedures involved in the revision of electoral rolls and have called for greater transparency from election authorities. The CJP has described its campaign as a pressure movement focused on public issues rather than an effort to enter electoral politics. Rathee's participation added a prominent public figure to the Bengaluru demonstration, while Prakash Raj's presence also drew attention to the protest. Rathee has previously commented publicly on political and institutional issues through his YouTube channel and social media platforms. His statement that he was not at the protest for regime change appeared to distinguish his participation from a demand for a change of government. Instead, his remarks centred on concerns about the election process and accountability of the institution overseeing it.

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The Special Intensive Revision exercise involves the verification and updating of electoral rolls, making questions over documentation, eligibility and inclusion significant for voters. The Election Commission has undertaken electoral roll revisions as part of its mandate to maintain accurate voter lists. However, political parties and civil society groups can raise concerns about the process, particularly where they believe voters could face difficulties in establishing their eligibility or remaining on the rolls. The competing positions have made SIR a subject of political debate, with supporters highlighting electoral roll verification and critics focusing on transparency and safeguards for voters.

The Bengaluru protest therefore combined a specific demand for the Election Commission leadership with broader concerns about the SIR process and electoral administration. Rathee's comments, as reported by PTI, indicated that his participation was not intended as a call for regime change, while his criticism focused on transparency and accountability. The CJP has continued to use protests and public campaigns to press its demands concerning the election process. The Election Commission's role and the implementation of SIR are likely to remain subjects of scrutiny as political groups and public figures debate how electoral rolls should be revised and verified.

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