SRI VIJAYA PURAM | OCTOBER 23, 2026 | DWEEP TULIKA | LOCAL NEWS

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Andaman and Nicobar State Committee, organised a mass demonstration near the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council at Aberdeen Bazar on Friday evening, October 23, opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

According to a press release issued by the CITU State Committee, the demonstration formed part of a nationwide agitation involving trade unions, farmers’ organisations, students and youth over concerns about the removal of voters from electoral rolls during SIR.

CITU Leaders Raise Concerns Over Voter Deletions

Addressing the gathering, B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary of the CITU State Committee, outlined the nationwide agitation and alleged that democratic movements were being suppressed by the Modi government.

R. Surendran Pillai, President of the CITU State Committee, expressed concern over what he described as the removal of thousands of voters from the electoral rolls in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during SIR.

The allegations regarding voter deletions and the characterisation of the revision exercise reflect the concerns expressed by CITU in its press release.

Demands for Electoral Reforms

According to the organisation, the nationwide agitation is centred on four principal demands:

  • The resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

  • Scrapping what CITU describes as the “illegal SIR” and returning to periodic revisions as conducted earlier.

  • Repealing the Election Commission’s appointment law and ensuring the Commission’s autonomy.

  • Comprehensive electoral reforms, including proportional representation, measures to curb money and muscle power, and state funding of elections.

These demands were presented by CITU as part of its broader campaign on electoral processes and democratic representation.

Trade Union Representatives Attend Demonstration

Anand Rajan, Treasurer, and M. Yugander, Secretary of the CITU State Committee, along with Venkat Rao, Secretary of ASNVMS, also addressed the gathering, according to the press release.

R. Rajendran, Secretary of the CITU State Committee, and other leaders were present at the demonstration.

CITU stated that a large number of workers from various unions in Port Blair town and rural South Andaman attended the programme.

The press release did not provide an independently verified attendance figure or include a response from the Election Commission or the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.

Dweep Tulika News Desk

Source: CITU Andaman and Nicobar State Committee press release dated 23 October 2026.