NEW DELHI, Oct. 19 -- The Opposition INDIA bloc has decided to expand its November 1 rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan to include student organisations and civil society groups, broadening its campaign demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The decision marks a shift from the alliance's original plan, which primarily involved constituent political parties, as student bodies and civil society organisations have increasingly participated in demonstrations against the Election Commission. The rally is part of a series of protests announced by INDIA bloc parties on September 29, aimed at intensifying pressure over the electoral roll revision exercise and the functioning of the poll panel. Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien confirmed that the proposed demonstration would bring together political parties, student groups and civil society representatives. "The rally will include members of civic society and students. There are no divisions. All of us are working together," O'Brien said on Sunday.
The expanded participation is in line with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's position that the ongoing demonstrations by different organisations are part of a common movement. At a recent meeting of INDIA bloc leaders at Gandhi's Sunehri Bagh Road residence, student representatives, including All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora and Students' Federation of India (SFI) leader Aishe Ghosh, participated alongside activists Yogendra Yadav and advocate Prashant Bhushan. Gandhi subsequently met leaders of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and Indian Youth Congress (IYC) who had sustained injuries or faced police cases during recent demonstrations. It remains uncertain whether the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has organised separate demonstrations demanding Kumar's resignation, will formally participate in the November 1 rally.
The Congress had earlier described the CJP as a front of the Aam Aadmi Party, but its position has evolved as the protests gathered momentum. Gandhi recently expressed support for CJP activists who were arrested while attempting to demonstrate with the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar. He maintained that peacefully waving the national flag was not a crime and argued that protests by students, young people, journalists and Opposition parties were united by demands concerning constitutional rights. Asked whether the CJP would be invited to the rally, O'Brien indicated that all groups were welcome to participate. CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said discussions were underway to finalise arrangements for the demonstration.
A coordination committee comprising approximately 10 to 15 leaders, primarily based in Delhi, is expected to be constituted to supervise preparations and coordinate activities among participating organisations. The panel will meet regularly to review arrangements and determine the next steps in the Opposition's protest programme. CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby said the November 1 demonstration was a collective decision taken during consultations among INDIA bloc constituents. He expressed hope that the rally would draw substantial participation and said the alliance was considering additional programmes beyond the Ramlila Maidan gathering.
Delhi Police granted permission on Saturday for the Congress to organise the November 1 demonstration at Ramlila Maidan and issued a no-objection certificate. Police officials said the party had reserved the venue from October 25 to November 3 to facilitate preparations and related arrangements. The rally follows a series of confrontations between Opposition protesters and police in the national capital, including demonstrations near Jantar Mantar, a march towards the Supreme Court and another from Parliament towards Rashtrapati Bhavan to seek a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu. The BJP has rejected the Opposition's allegations concerning the electoral roll revision exercise. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has questioned the Opposition's criticism of the SIR, referring to the Congress's prolonged absence from power in several states. With police permission secured and preparations underway, the November 1 rally is expected to bring together a wider range of organisations under the INDIA bloc's campaign against the Chief Election Commissioner. The scale of participation and the inclusion of groups outside the Opposition alliance will become clearer as the coordination committee finalises arrangements ahead of the demonstration.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.