The INDIA bloc on Wednesday mounted a fresh offensive against the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a return to ballot papers in future elections.

At a coordination meeting at the Constitution Club in New Delhi, Opposition parties accused the Election Commission of undermining the electoral process and announced a nationwide protest programme, sharply escalating their confrontation with the poll body.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced that INDIA bloc leaders would organise a “Save Democracy March” at the district level from October 2 to 8. Opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission on October 6, while leaders of the bloc will meet President Droupadi Murmu in the second week of October to raise what they described as concerns over the functioning of electoral institutions.

The meeting brought together representatives of 19 parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), RJD, CPM, CPI, JKNC, JKPDP, JMM, CPI-ML, IUML, KC(M), MDMK, VCK, RSP, KC(J) and AIFB.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav did not attend the meeting but deputed two party MPs to represent the SP.

Congress general secretary (organisation), KC Venugopal said the bloc had identified several “non-negotiable” demands, including the immediate removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, restoration of pre-SIR electoral rolls for future elections, use of ballot papers instead of EVMs and an effective appeals mechanism for people excluded from electoral rolls.

“Our non-negotiable demands are: Gyanesh Kumar’s immediate removal, use of pre-SIR electoral rolls for all future elections, use of ballot papers and not EVMs and an effective appeals mechanism for all those excluded from the voter rolls, besides protection for genuine voters from exclusion due to technical/administrative reasons,” Venugopal said in a post on X.

Venugopal also accused the CEC of “rigging” elections, a charge rejected by the BJP and the Election Commission.

Addressing the meeting, Kharge said India’s democratic system was founded on the principle of “one person, one vote, one value” and alleged that the principle was facing serious challenges.

“Across the country, citizens and political parties are raising grave concerns about the functioning of the Election Commission,” he said.

Kharge alleged that questions concerning EVMs, manipulation of voter lists and changes in electoral rolls had not received satisfactory answers.

Referring to the SIR exercise, he alleged that 13.3 crore voters had been removed from electoral rolls.

“It is shocking that as many as 13.3 Crore voters have blatantly been removed from voter list. Their power to take part in a DEMOCRACY has been snatched,” Kharge said.

He said an independent and impartial Election Commission was essential for credible elections under Article 324 of the Constitution.

Targeting CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Kharge referred to reported objections raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi and demanded Kumar’s removal.

“Today our Chief Election Commissioner stands totally exposed. His two fellow members have written 14 times in 10 months!” Kharge said, alleging that the reported differences raised questions over the functioning of the Commission.

He further called upon Kumar to resign.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told the meeting that INDIA bloc leaders were committed to ensuring accountability for those whom they believe had undermined democratic institutions.

“It doesn’t matter how senior they are, who they are; Indian democracy is bigger than every single person in this country,” Gandhi said.

He expressed confidence that the Opposition’s campaign would lead to significant political changes in the months ahead.

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Mamata demands CEC, PM resignations

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also demanded the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and said the protest would continue until the demand was met.

She also called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation and appealed to students, young people and journalists to support the campaign.

“We will save democracy. We want your support, students, youth and journalists,” Banerjee said.

The meeting was significant as it brought together parties that remain political rivals in several states.

The Trinamool Congress and Left parties are opponents in West Bengal, while the Congress and Left parties have competing political interests in Kerala. Despite these differences, the parties joined hands over their concerns regarding the Election Commission and the SIR exercise.

The Opposition mobilisation also extended beyond the formal INDIA bloc.

Biju Janata Dal MP Sasmit Patra said that although the BJD was not part of the alliance, his party supported the demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s removal.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh described the issue concerning the CEC as a “national issue” and appealed to political parties to support the protest scheduled for October 2.

The DMK, which has had differences with the Congress following the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, also expressed support for the demand.

DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan said the Congress and DMK were taking the same position on the issue, while making it clear that his party was not joining the INDIA bloc.

“Congress and DMK are saying the same line, that Gyanesh Kumar should be removed. But this does not mean we are a part of the INDIA bloc,” Elangovan said.

He added that if the issue came before Parliament, the DMK would support the demand.

BJP hits back

The BJP strongly rejected the Opposition’s allegations and accused the INDIA bloc of raising the issue because of electoral setbacks.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan questioned the Opposition’s allegations concerning EVMs and the electoral process.

“If they win, democracy zindabad; if they lose, Election Commission murdabad,” Chouhan said, while describing the criticism as a result of “frustration after defeat”.

He also questioned the EVM allegations by pointing to Congress victories in several states.

“How did Congress win in Karnataka? How did Congress win in Telangana? How did Congress win in Himachal?” he asked.

Bihar BJP president Sanjay Sarogi questioned the unity of the Opposition, pointing to the absence of Akhilesh Yadav and the DMK’s decision not to participate in the meeting.

“Slowly, cracks are appearing even among them. DMK has said that we won’t go, Akhilesh Yadav isn’t going,” Sarogi said.

He alleged that Opposition meetings of this nature generally followed electoral defeats and described the meeting as “ranting”.

Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa also questioned the durability of the Opposition alliance, saying previous attempts at Opposition unity had failed because of differences among its constituents.

Bihar Minister Ramkripal Yadav similarly alleged that differences within the Opposition would prevent it from sustaining unity. He also attacked the Congress leadership over its electoral performance.

West Bengal Minister Shankar Ghosh dismissed the INDIA bloc meeting as an attempt by opposition parties to protect their political interests and questioned whether the alliance had any substantive existence.

BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also criticised the Opposition, saying its constituents would continue to hold meetings despite differences over participation.

(with inputs from ANI)