Patna, September 25, 2026: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) staged a protest in Patna on Friday against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, amid an escalating political dispute over the Election Commission’s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The protest was part of an RJD programme announced across Bihar. The party had called for demonstrations and the burning of the Chief Election Commissioner’s effigy at district headquarters on September 25. RJD Protest March in Patna In Patna, the RJD protest reportedly began from the party’s state office and proceeded along Veerchand Patel Path towards Income Tax Golambar. At the protest site, RJD leaders and workers burned an effigy of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and raised demands concerning the electoral process. The demonstration comes amid a wider opposition campaign against the Election Commission. Congress workers have also been holding protests in Patna and other cities, demanding action against the CEC. Why Is RJD Protesting? The immediate issue is the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and reports about differences within the Election Commission over decisions relating to voter registration and electoral rolls. RJD leaders, including Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, have alleged that the electoral process has been compromised and have demanded the cancellation of recent Assembly elections in Bihar and other states. These are political allegations made by the RJD and have not been established as facts by the sources cited here. The party has also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Reports of Differences Within the Election Commission The controversy intensified after media reports said that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised written objections on several decisions of the Election Commission over a period of months, including matters related to electoral rolls and the SIR exercise. An Indian Express report cited by multiple outlets said the two Election Commissioners had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months. The reports have become a major point of contention between opposition parties and the Election Commission. Opposition and Government Responses The issue has expanded beyond the RJD. Congress and other opposition parties have also organised protests demanding the resignation or removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The BJP has rejected the opposition’s allegations concerning electoral-roll manipulation and defended the Election Commission. Union Minister Chirag Paswan has said that the Election Commission should firmly present its position when questions are raised about its functioning. The dispute therefore involves competing claims: opposition parties are questioning the conduct and transparency of the electoral process, while the BJP has rejected those allegations. What Is SIR? Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a process involving the revision and verification of electoral rolls. The process has become politically contentious because changes to electoral rolls can directly affect who is listed as an eligible voter. Questions surrounding voter inclusion, deletion and verification have therefore become central to the current political debate. For voters, the practical issue is straightforward: ensuring that their names and details are correctly reflected in the electoral roll. What Happens Next? The protests are likely to keep the Election Commission and the electoral-roll revision process at the centre of political debate in Bihar. For citizens, however, it is important to distinguish between political allegations, media reports and officially established findings. Voters should verify their own electoral-roll information through official Election Commission channels rather than relying solely on political claims or social-media posts. Key Points * What: RJD protest against the Election Commission and CEC Gyanesh Kumar * Where: Patna, Bihar * When: September 25, 2026 * Main issues: SIR, electoral rolls and Election Commission functioning * RJD’s demands: Action against the CEC and changes concerning the electoral process * Patna protest: March from the RJD office towards Income Tax Golambar, followed by effigy burning * Broader context: Congress and other opposition groups are also protesting against the CEC Disclaimer: Claims made by political parties in this report are attributed to those parties and should not be treated as independently established facts unless supported by official findings or other reliable evidence.