Archive · 1 Oct 2026
INDIA Bloc Announces Marches, Rallies Over Alleged ‘Vote Chori’
India’s opposition parties say they are worried about how elections and voter lists are being handled.
They call their concern “vote chori,” meaning they believe some people could lose their right to vote.
The INDIA bloc plans marches outside district magistrates’ offices from October 2 to October 8.
Opposition lawmakers will march to the Election Commission of India on October 6.
The parties also plan five rallies across India in October and November.
A major rally is planned in Delhi on November 1.
Opposition leaders want to meet President Droupadi Murmu and ask the Supreme Court to speed up related cases.
The opposition blames Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleges that election changes benefit the ruling party, while the articles provide no response from election authorities or the government.
The INDIA bloc will hold district-level “Save Democracy” marches from October 2 to October 8.
All Opposition MPs plan to march to the Election Commission of India on October 6.
The bloc announced five rallies across India during October and November, including a Delhi rally on November 1.
Opposition leaders cited a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded at least 14 objections over 10 months.
The bloc will seek meetings with President Droupadi Murmu and ask the Supreme Court to expedite cases involving SIR and alleged electoral malpractice.
- Who
- The INDIA bloc, including Opposition MPs and leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee.
- What
- The bloc announced district marches, an October 6 march to the Election Commission of India, five rallies, and appeals to the President and Supreme Court over alleged electoral irregularities.
- When
- District marches are planned for October 2-8, the Election Commission march for October 6, and the Delhi rally for November 1; other rallies will occur in October and November.
- Where
- Marches will take place in districts and before district magistrates’ offices; the national march will go to the Election Commission of India, and rallies will be held across India.
- Why
- The opposition says changes involving electoral databases, Form 6 and voter-list deletions during the SIR exercise could remove voting rights and undermine democracy.
INDIA bloc’s allegations
Election authorities’ position
Election-process changes
INDIA bloc’s allegations
The INDIA bloc says centralising electoral data, changing Form 6 and deleting names during SIR could disenfranchise voters and benefit the ruling party.
Election authorities’ position
The articles do not provide a response from the Election Commission of India or the government addressing these allegations.
Chief Election Commissioner
INDIA bloc’s allegations
Opposition leaders accuse Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of acting for the Bharatiya Janata Party and demand his resignation.
Election authorities’ position
The articles report the accusation but do not include Gyanesh Kumar’s response or an independent finding confirming it.
Voting method
INDIA bloc’s allegations
Mallikarjun Kharge said all elections should return to ballot papers and that laws framed by what he called the “vote chori government” should be annulled.
Election authorities’ position
The articles do not include a response from election authorities or the government to the ballot-paper demand.
- District marches
- October 2 to October 8 before district magistrates’ offices
- Opposition MPs’ march
- October 6 to the Election Commission of India
- Planned rallies
- Five rallies across India during October and November
- Delhi rally
- A major rally is planned for November 1
- Reported objections
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly objected at least 14 times over 10 months
- Issues cited
- Centralisation of the ECINet database, changes to Form 6 and voter-list deletions during the SIR exercise
- Additional requests
- The bloc will seek a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu and ask the Supreme Court to expedite pending cases
