The INDIA bloc has announced a month-long protest campaign against the Election Commission. The plan was announced after opposition leaders met for nearly three-and-a-half hours on Wednesday, with Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also demanding the resignations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
It will start with district-level “Save Democracy” marches from October 2 to 8, followed by a big rally in Delhi on November 1.
Five rallies are planned for October and November, with their dates and venues to be announced. The programme gives the opposition a common political campaign stretching across several weeks. “Discussions continued for around three-and-a-half hours. Many leaders expressed their views. Uddhav Thackeray ji and Hemant Soren ji also shared their views.
A larger rally will be held in Delhi on November 1.
Everyone has decided to fight together in a united manner,” Kharge said.
Why is the Opposition protesting against the Election Commission?
Earlier reporting noted: INDIA bloc demands paper ballots, targets CEC and PM Modi over voter roll row Opposition parties on Wednesday demanded that paper ballots replace electronic voting machines (EVMs) and announced a five-point programme targeting the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The campaign follows months of attacks by opposition parties on the Election Commission over electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision process. Opposition leaders have alleged irregularities and accused the poll body of acting under government influence. The Election Commission has rejected allegations against its functioning, and BJP leaders have accused opposition parties of attacking constitutional institutions after electoral setbacks. The INDIA bloc’s demands include the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. “It is publicly known that Gyanesh Kumar is a thief, a dacoit. He has hijacked the EVMs. Our demand is that if Gyanesh Kumar does not resign, this protest will continue for a long time. The Prime Minister must resign immediately. We will save democracy. He also called for reversing recent election law amendments.
Opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission on October 6. A Congress leader said it was a reference to the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, which grants legal immunity to the CEC and Election Commissioners.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said INDIA bloc parties would organise a “Save Democracy March” at the district level from October 2 to October 8. Kharge said the alliance would take its case directly to voters through the district-level programme. We want your support, students, youth and journalists,” Mamata Banerjee said. Earlier reporting noted: “Everyone has decided to fight together in a united manner,” declared Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge after a three-and-a-half-hour strategy session. He confirmed that all participating leaders “100% agreed that instead of EVMs, paper ballots should be used”.
Earlier reporting noted: The INDIA bloc accused the CEC and the government of manipulating voter rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise to subvert electoral integrity.
The bloc also plans to seek an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu in the second week of October.
Kharge said the opposition would place its concerns about the functioning of institutions before the President.
