1 hr ago
INDIA bloc plans protests against Election Commission, SIR, CEC
Opposition parties in India formed a plan to protest against the Election Commission.
They are especially unhappy with a voter-list review called the special intensive revision, or SIR.
They say the review may have helped the BJP and wrongly removed some voters.
The parties will organize marches, rallies and a visit to the Election Commission’s office.
They also want to meet the President and ask the Supreme Court to decide related cases quickly.
Some leaders demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign or be removed.
The meeting did not discuss the Congress plan to issue new impeachment notices against him.
The opposition also debated which voter list should be used in future elections.
They said their protests are meant to defend democracy and the Constitution.
The INDIA bloc announced district-level protests against the Election Commission and special intensive revision of voter lists.
Opposition MPs will rally at Nirvachan Sadan in Delhi on October 6 and seek the President’s appointment in October.
The bloc plans six rallies, including one in Delhi on November 1, and will seek early Supreme Court decisions on electoral cases.
The meeting did not discuss the Congress plan for fresh impeachment notices against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, according to sources.
Opposition leaders alleged voter-roll manipulation, demanded electoral reforms and urged broader coordination with non-NDA parties.
- Who
- The INDIA bloc, comprising representatives of 19 parties and an Independent MP, including Congress leaders and other Opposition figures.
- What
- The bloc announced coordinated protests, rallies and legal action concerning the Election Commission, the SIR voter-list revision and electoral matters.
- Where
- The protests will include district-level locations, Nirvachan Sadan and a rally in Delhi; the bloc will also seek a meeting with the President.
- When
- The decision was announced on Wednesday; planned actions include marches from October 2 to 8, a rally on October 6, and another rally on November 1.
- Why
- Opposition parties allege that the SIR and other voter-roll changes have benefited the BJP, wrongly deleted voters and undermined democratic elections.
INDIA bloc’s position
Election process and governing parties’ position
Special intensive revision
INDIA bloc’s position
Opposition parties allege that the SIR and related voter-roll changes benefited the BJP and led to wrongful voter deletions.
Election process and governing parties’ position
The article does not provide a response from the Election Commission or the BJP to these allegations.
Chief election commissioner
INDIA bloc’s position
Several Opposition leaders demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation or removal, while some participants discussed filing cases against officials allegedly responsible for violations.
Election process and governing parties’ position
The article says the 2023 law provides lifelong immunity for the CEC’s actions in office, according to an MP who attended the meeting.
Election method
INDIA bloc’s position
The INDIA bloc said it unanimously supports holding elections using ballot papers and wants laws it opposes repealed.
Election process and governing parties’ position
The article does not provide the Election Commission’s or the government’s response to the ballot-paper demand.
Key facts
- Meeting attendance
- Thirty-two representatives of 19 parties and Independent MP Kapil Sibal attended; Hemant Soren and Uddhav Thackeray joined online.
- District protests
- The bloc plans “Save Democracy” marches from October 2 to 8.
- Delhi rally
- Opposition MPs plan to march to Nirvachan Sadan on October 6.
- Additional rallies
- The parties plan six rallies, including one in Delhi on November 1.
- Court action
- The bloc plans to seek an early resolution of cases concerning the SIR and other electoral matters.
- CEC issue
- Sources said the meeting did not take up Congress’s plan to issue fresh impeachment notices against Gyanesh Kumar.
- Voter deletion allegation
- A CPIML-Liberation survey in parts of Bihar reportedly found that around one-fifth of voters were wrongly deleted after 2024.
Quotes
Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress president and INDIA bloc leader
“Everyone in the INDIA alliance agrees 100 per cent on having polls only with ballot papers. Everyone has strongly insisted on it.... The laws enacted by this chori ki sarkar should be repealed. If they don’t repeal them, we will repeal them all when we come to power.”
telegraphindia.com
“We are going to ensure — this is a personal commitment from all the leaders — that the people who have destroyed Indian democracy are punished.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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