New Delhi/Mumbai, Oct. 1 -- The Opposition INDIA bloc and the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) are set to launch separate protests against the Election Commission from October 2, with the bloc planning district-level 'Save Democracy' marches and a march by its MPs to the poll panel on October 6, while the CJP has announced a nationwide agitation demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. The protests come amid opposition parties' objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and allegations of irregularities in the functioning and decision-making of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The Congress on Thursday said voices against what it described as the "capture" of the electoral system were growing louder and asserted that citizens would not tolerate "vote chori" in any form.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the INDIA bloc was committed to protecting the Constitution and democracy. Citing former Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat, he alleged that the SIR exercise had resulted in nearly 14 crore eligible voters being disenfranchised.
"In an interview to a leading national daily, former CEC O.P. Rawat has questioned the SIR and the violations committed by the ECI. It is 'the first time since Independence that so many eligible voters have lost their vote'," Ramesh said on X.
Ramesh also quoted Rawat as saying the Election Commission, once regarded as the "gold standard", had suffered a loss of credibility and that the other two election commissioners should have done more to stop what he described as the CEC's "illegal decisions".
The INDIA bloc announced its joint protest programme after a meeting attended by leaders of 19 opposition parties. The plan includes 'Save Democracy' marches in districts from October 2 to 8, a march by all Opposition MPs to the Election Commission on October 6, a meeting with the President and five major rallies.
The opposition parties have also demanded that future elections be conducted using ballot papers and have sought an early hearing of cases related to the SIR and alleged electoral irregularities. Leaders at the meeting discussed the demand for Kumar's resignation and said they would continue their agitation until the demand was met.
The INDIA bloc's campaign follows a report by The Indian Express that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected on record at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions and orders relating to the SIR, which they said had been issued without their knowledge or recommendation. The Election Commission has maintained that its decisions were taken in accordance with due procedure.
Separately, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday announced that his organisation would begin protests from October 2, with a demonstration planned at Shivaji Park in Mumbai's Dadar area. He demanded Kumar's resignation and warned that the agitation would spread to several parts of the country before moving to Jantar Mantar in Delhi from the end of October if the CEC did not step down.
Dipke said the CJP would not join the INDIA bloc's October 6 protest and would continue to operate as an independent movement. He said protests would be held in Goa, Bengaluru, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Patna and Ranchi.
"CEC Gyanesh Kumar must resign and a criminal case should be registered against him," Dipke said at an interaction at the Mumbai Press Club.
On the reported denial of permission by Mumbai Police for the Shivaji Park protest, Dipke questioned why the CJP could not hold a demonstration at the venue if political rallies could be organised there.
Referring to remarks by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the consequences of arrests during protests, Dipke said he was prepared to go to jail and return to protest again.
CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde said the organisation would take its campaign to several cities and would hold a demonstration at Jantar Mantar if Kumar did not resign.
Asked about the INDIA bloc's protest, Dipke said the CJP would not participate in any political programme but welcomed the opposition's campaign against alleged electoral irregularities.
The CJP has also called for a transparent process for appointing the CEC, with civil society participation, and sought the freezing of the 2025 voter list to prevent what it described as further tampering.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Shiv Sena (UBT) have announced a separate protest march against the Election Commission in Mumbai on October 4.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.