1 hr ago
Gandhi Siblings' Surprise Sit-In Unsettles INDIA Bloc Allies
Opposition lawmakers in India marched to protest how voter lists are being revised.
They wanted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
Police stopped the march in Delhi and detained some lawmakers.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra then staged a sit-in at a nearby building with other Congress leaders.
Police detained them later, then released them.
Some partner parties said the protest started as a group effort but ended up focusing too much on the Gandhi siblings.
They also disagreed with the Congress leaders' decision to seek a meeting with the Election Commission.
Congress said the sit-in was not planned and apologized for not keeping its partners informed.
About 200 Opposition MPs marched from Parliament toward the Election Commission office in Delhi, seeking Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over voter-roll revision issues.
Police stopped the march near Akashvani Bhavan and detained several Opposition MPs, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra staged an unscheduled sit-in at Akashvani Bhavan, along with other Congress leaders, and were later detained and released.
Some INDIA bloc allies said the joint protest became dominated by the Gandhi siblings and objected to the Congress leaders' demand for a meeting with the Election Commission.
Congress described the sit-in as spontaneous, while KC Venugopal reportedly regretted that allies had not been kept informed; an FIR was filed after the protest.
- Who
- INDIA bloc MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress and Opposition leaders.
- What
- A march and sit-in demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over issues linked to the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls.
- Where
- Near Akashvani Bhavan and the Election Commission office in Delhi.
- When
- Tuesday; the article does not specify the date.
- Why
- The protesters raised concerns about the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and called for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Congress's account
INDIA bloc allies' concerns
Who led the protest
Congress's account
Congress leaders described the Akashvani Bhavan sit-in as spontaneous and said the move could not have been predicted.
INDIA bloc allies' concerns
Some allies felt a joint INDIA bloc protest had turned into a Congress and Rahul Gandhi event.
Communication with allies
Congress's account
KC Venugopal reportedly said the Congress leadership acted in the moment and regretted the mistrust caused by not keeping allies informed.
INDIA bloc allies' concerns
Some allies said they had not been consulted or kept in the loop about the sit-in.
Meeting the Election Commission
Congress's account
Congress leaders at the sit-in demanded a meeting with the Election Commission.
INDIA bloc allies' concerns
A Left MP questioned why protesters should seek a meeting with the Commission while demanding the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation, saying allies would not have agreed had it been discussed.
Key facts
- Protest participants
- About 200 Opposition MPs gathered at Parliament's Makar Dwar.
- Destination
- The march was headed toward the Election Commission office in Delhi.
- Protest site
- Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders staged a sit-in at Akashvani Bhavan.
- Demand
- The protesters sought the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Issue cited
- The protest concerned the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls.
- Police action
- Several Opposition MPs were detained and taken to police stations; the Gandhi siblings and accompanying Congress leaders were detained later and released.
- Aftermath
- An FIR was filed, and KC Venugopal reportedly told allies the Congress leadership had acted in the moment and regretted the mistrust.
Quotes
An INDIA bloc source
An unnamed source from an INDIA bloc party commenting on the protest.
“Why would we meet the Election Commission when we are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar? If this had been discussed with the allies, we wouldn’t have agreed.”
indianexpress.com
“Today’s protest was an INDIA bloc protest. But eventually it became a Congress and Rahul Gandhi protest.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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