India’s opposition INDIA bloc has announced a series of protests against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls, including an Oct. 6 march to the Election Commission and nationwide “Save Democracy” rallies.
The opposition alliance finalized its joint action plan Wednesday following a meeting in New Delhi focused on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said “Save Democracy” rallies will be organized across districts between Oct. 2 and Oct. 8.
Opposition MPs are also expected to march to the Election Commission headquarters on Oct. 6, while a larger public meeting is planned in New Delhi for Nov. 1.
Kharge said the alliance also plans to organize five rallies aimed at highlighting its allegations that voting and other constitutional rights are being undermined.
The Election Commission has rejected allegations of wrongdoing surrounding electoral roll revisions and maintained that its actions have been lawful.
Opposition calls for return to ballot papers
The INDIA bloc also renewed its opposition to electronic voting machines, with Kharge saying alliance members agreed elections should return to paper ballots.
He also called for electoral rolls that existed before the SIR process to be used in future elections.
The meeting lasted approximately three-and-a-half hours and included senior opposition figures such as Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule.
The alliance has accused election authorities of irregularities in the SIR process and raised concerns that eligible voters could be removed from electoral rolls.
The Election Commission has disputed opposition allegations surrounding the process.
Protests spread to Jharkhand and West Bengal
Opposition parties have also begun organizing demonstrations at the state level.
In Jharkhand, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha held a protest outside Lok Bhavan in Ranchi on Wednesday, demanding Kumar’s resignation and calling for elections to be conducted using paper ballots.
JMM leaders also criticized the SIR process, alleging that voters are concerned their names could be removed from electoral rolls.
Left parties in West Bengal, meanwhile, announced plans for an Oct. 2 demonstration in Kolkata.
CPI(M) West Bengal state secretary Mohammed Salim said the protest would demand Kumar’s removal as chief election commissioner and an immediate halt to the SIR exercise.
The announcement followed the detention Tuesday of CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby and other Left leaders during a protest at the Election Commission headquarters in New Delhi.
BJP rejects opposition claims
The Bharatiya Janata Party responded by criticizing the INDIA bloc and questioning the opposition alliance’s unity.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan pointed to the absence of Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and some other opposition figures from Wednesday’s meeting, arguing that the alliance was weakening and questioning Rahul Gandhi’s leadership.
The INDIA bloc, however, emerged from the meeting with a coordinated protest schedule as it seeks to increase pressure on the Election Commission over the SIR controversy.
The planned demonstrations will place electoral roll revisions, the opposition’s demand for Kumar’s resignation and its call for a return to paper ballots at the centre of its political campaign in the coming weeks.
