The INDIA bloc has announced a nationwide ‘Save Democracy’ campaign beginning on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, over concerns related to the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The opposition alliance, comprising around 19 parties, has planned rallies, demonstrations and protests across districts from October 2 to 8.
The opposition parties have demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and have raised concerns over voter-list revisions and transparency in the electoral process. The INDIA bloc has also called for greater transparency in electoral-roll changes and has demanded that elections be conducted using ballot papers instead of EVMs. These are demands put forward by the opposition alliance.
According to the announced programme, opposition MPs will march towards the Election Commission headquarters in New Delhi on October 6. The alliance has also indicated plans for larger rallies during October and November. Leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and other opposition figures participated in discussions on the protest programme.
The BJP has criticised the INDIA bloc’s move, with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan questioning the unity of the opposition alliance and pointing to the absence of some parties and leaders from the meeting. Separately, civil-society groups, student organisations and other organisations have also announced protests at places including Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on October 2.
