The INDIA bloc on Wednesday announced a nationwide 'Save Democracy March' from October 2 to 8, intensifying its campaign against the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The opposition alliance also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the poll panel of failing to ensure electoral transparency and protect the voting rights of eligible citizens.
The decision was taken at a meeting of opposition leaders at the Constitution Club in New Delhi, where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge outlined a coordinated protest programme. The alliance announced plans for nationwide demonstrations, a march by opposition MPs to the Election Commission headquarters and an appeal to President Droupadi Murmu over its concerns about the electoral process.
Opposition outlines nationwide protest programme
According to the programme announced after the meeting, INDIA bloc constituents will organise demonstrations across the country between October 2 and 8. Opposition MPs are also scheduled to march to the Election Commission headquarters on October 6 to register their protest against the functioning of the poll panel and demand greater accountability.
Senior opposition leaders will seek an appointment with President Murmu during the second week of October to raise their concerns over electoral roll revisions and alleged voter deletions. The alliance has demanded the restoration of pre-SIR electoral rolls, a return to ballot papers and an effective appeals mechanism for voters whose names have been removed from electoral lists.
Addressing reporters, Kharge said the participating parties had agreed to launch a coordinated campaign to protect electoral transparency and democratic institutions. He alleged that large-scale deletions from electoral rolls had raised serious questions about the Election Commission's functioning and warned that eligible voters should not be deprived of their constitutional rights.
Rahul Gandhi questions electoral transparency
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the Election Commission and reiterated the opposition's demand for accountability in the electoral process. He alleged that irregularities in voter lists and the implementation of the SIR exercise had undermined public confidence in electoral institutions.
The Congress leader maintained that electoral roll revisions should be conducted transparently and should not result in the exclusion of eligible voters. He also called for stronger safeguards to ensure that citizens affected by deletions or discrepancies have access to an effective grievance redressal mechanism.
Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee demanded the immediate resignation of Kumar and urged opposition parties to mobilise public support for the campaign. She maintained that the functioning of the Election Commission required greater scrutiny and called for collective action to address concerns surrounding electoral administration.
BJP dismisses campaign as political frustration
The BJP rejected the opposition's allegations and accused the INDIA bloc of attempting to discredit constitutional institutions after suffering electoral defeats. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described the proposed campaign as an expression of political frustration and questioned the opposition's repeated criticism of electronic voting machines and electoral procedures.
Chouhan maintained that opposition parties had questioned the credibility of electoral institutions whenever election results went against them. He also raised questions about the unity of the INDIA bloc, pointing to the absence of certain prominent opposition leaders from Wednesday's meeting.
Other BJP leaders accused the opposition of using allegations against the Election Commission to pursue political objectives rather than accepting electoral outcomes. The ruling party maintained that electoral disputes should be addressed through established constitutional and legal mechanisms.
Electoral roll revision remains contentious
The controversy surrounding the SIR exercise has become a major point of confrontation between the government and opposition parties. The INDIA bloc has alleged that the revision process resulted in the deletion of eligible voters, particularly among economically disadvantaged and vulnerable sections of society.
Opposition leaders have demanded greater transparency in the preparation and revision of electoral rolls, along with safeguards to prevent wrongful deletions. They have also called for an accessible appeals mechanism to enable affected voters to challenge decisions and restore their names to electoral lists.
The Election Commission has previously rejected allegations questioning its impartiality and maintained that electoral roll revisions are intended to ensure the accuracy and integrity of voter lists. The opposition, however, continues to question the implementation of the exercise and has sought greater scrutiny of the procedures followed.
Alliance plans further political mobilisation
Wednesday's meeting brought together representatives of several opposition parties despite differences among alliance constituents in state politics. The leaders agreed to coordinate their activities during the week-long campaign and continue raising electoral reform issues through political and constitutional channels.
The proposed October 6 march to the Election Commission headquarters is expected to form a central part of the protest programme. The alliance also plans to organise further public mobilisation and major rallies as part of its campaign against alleged electoral irregularities.
The announcement sets the stage for another confrontation between the opposition and the BJP over the functioning of the Election Commission. While the INDIA bloc has framed its campaign around electoral transparency and voting rights, the ruling party has rejected the allegations and questioned the political motivations behind the protests.