New Delhi: The Opposition INDIA bloc on Wednesday finalised a joint action plan to step up its campaign over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and other concerns related to the Election Commission. The alliance announced a series of “Save Democracy” marches, protests and rallies in the coming weeks.
The decision followed a meeting of senior INDIA bloc leaders in New Delhi that lasted around three-and-a-half hours. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the parties had agreed on a coordinated programme and would involve young people and NGOs in the protests.
According to the plan, district-level “Save Democracy” marches will be held from October 2 to 8, with demonstrations outside district magistrates’ offices. On October 6, Opposition MPs will march towards the Election Commission in Delhi, Kharge said.
The Opposition leaders will also seek an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu in the second week of October to submit a representation on their concerns regarding the electoral process. The alliance has further announced five major rallies, with dates and venues to be finalised.
A key point of discussion was the voting system. Kharge said all parties in the alliance had agreed that elections should be conducted using ballot papers instead of EVMs. The bloc also plans to seek expeditious disposal of cases related to SIR before the Supreme Court.
The meeting was attended by Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, among others. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and JMM chief Hemant Soren joined the meeting virtually.
Kharge and Rahul Gandhi levelled allegations against the government and the Election Commission over the electoral-roll revision process. These are Opposition allegations; the Election Commission has maintained that decisions on SIR were taken unanimously and has defended the process.
Mamata Banerjee also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and said the Opposition would continue its campaign over the issue.
The INDIA bloc’s latest move marks an escalation of its coordinated campaign on SIR and electoral reforms, with the alliance planning to take the issue to the streets as well as before constitutional and judicial institutions.
