Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday led a large INDIA bloc protest march towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the voter roll revision exercise.
The Opposition MPs began their march from the Parliament complex and headed towards Nirvachan Sadan. Carrying banners that read “Save Democracy”, the protesters raised slogans against the Election Commission and Gyanesh Kumar.
As the march reached the area outside the ECI office, Rahul Gandhi encountered several layers of police barricades. In a dramatic moment, the Congress leader climbed onto one of the barricades and waved a large national flag as supporters gathered around him. The move drew loud cheers and slogans from the protesters.
Rahul Gandhi was later detained by the police along with his sister and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The two were taken onto a police bus but reportedly jumped out of the vehicle and continued moving towards the Election Commission building.
The protest has been organised over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have alleged that the exercise could result in genuine voters being removed from the electoral list. The Election Commission has rejected several allegations made by the Opposition and has defended the voter-roll revision process.
The INDIA bloc has been working on a larger protest strategy to keep the issue alive in the coming weeks. However, two important Opposition parties, the DMK and the Aam Aadmi Party, did not participate in Tuesday’s march.
The Congress has also announced a series of programmes under its “Save Vote, Save Country” campaign. From October 10 to 20, party workers will organise bicycle and motorcycle rallies at the block level, distribute leaflets and hold demonstrations.
From October 25 to November 25, the party plans to organise booth-level public meetings, or ‘Chaupals’, with the participation of senior Congress leaders. A major rally has also been planned at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1.
The Congress has further announced a “Chalo Delhi” programme on November 25 and 26. Six separate marches are expected to begin from different areas around Delhi and converge in the national capital on November 26, Constitution Day.
The party intends to raise the issue during the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament and has indicated that it may seek an impeachment motion against the Chief Election Commissioner.
The Opposition is also watching proceedings in the Supreme Court, where matters related to the Election Commission and the voter-roll revision are being heard. The court has issued notices to Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission, while also cautioning against taking immediate action based solely on media reports.
Tuesday’s protest marks another major escalation in the Opposition’s campaign against the Election Commission, with the Congress expected to continue its nationwide mobilisation in the weeks ahead.
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