INDIA bloc leaders during a protest against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls (Img: X/@INCongress)
New Delhi: The opposition alliance has stepped up its protest against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, alleging irregularities and raising concerns over voters’ rights.
The INDIA bloc’s protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is set to intensify in New Delhi, with opposition parties planning a march to Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday. The opposition leaders want to meet President Droupadi Murmu and seek the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in the voter-list revision exercise.
The proposed march comes amid a series of demonstrations by opposition MPs against the Election Commission’s handling of the SIR process. The INDIA bloc has argued that the exercise could affect eligible voters and has demanded accountability from the poll panel.
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Opposition leaders have continued their demonstrations in the national capital over the past few days. On Thursday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA bloc leaders gathered at Rajghat.
The leaders paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi before staging a sit-in protest. During the demonstration, opposition leaders reiterated their allegations of “vote chori” and said they would continue their campaign to protect democratic rights.
The alliance’s planned march to Rashtrapati Bhavan is intended to take its concerns directly to the President. Opposition leaders have sought an appointment with Droupadi Murmu, although confirmation of the meeting was awaited at the time of the announcement.
The INDIA bloc has been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over its concerns regarding the SIR exercise. Opposition parties have questioned the revision process and alleged that it could lead to the removal of eligible voters from electoral rolls.
The Election Commission has faced criticism from opposition leaders over its handling of the exercise. The allegations, however, remain contested, with the poll body maintaining that its decisions are taken through the established institutional process.
The opposition’s latest move signals that the issue is likely to remain a major point of contention in the coming days, with leaders insisting that their concerns about the electoral process must be addressed.
Rahul Gandhi has indicated that the opposition’s campaign will continue. In a post on social media, he described the movement as an effort to protect the Constitution, democracy and the voice of the people.
The Congress leader and other INDIA bloc representatives have argued that electoral transparency is essential to maintaining public confidence in the democratic process. Their protest has centred on the allegation that the SIR exercise risks disenfranchising sections of the electorate.
The BJP, meanwhile, has criticised the opposition’s street protests, questioning its approach to raising concerns about the Election Commission while related matters are also being addressed through legal and institutional channels.
The planned march to Rashtrapati Bhavan follows earlier demonstrations in Delhi, where opposition MPs attempted to press their demands through public protests. The leaders have maintained that they intend to continue their agitation until their concerns are heard.
Also Read: INDIA Bloc Protest LIVE: Rahul Gandhi, Kharge Lead Opposition Satyagraha At Raj Ghat
With the INDIA bloc seeking a meeting with the President and renewing its demand for the CEC’s resignation, the SIR issue remains at the centre of the latest opposition campaign.
The key question now is whether the proposed meeting with President Droupadi Murmu will take place and what response, if any, the opposition receives to its demands over the electoral-roll revision exercise.
