INDIA Bloc Gathers for Public Impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Opposition leaders meet at Mallikarjun Kharge's home ahead of a public impeachment programme against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over electoral irregularities.
In a high-stakes political showdown in the national capital, leaders of the INDIA bloc have converged at the residence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. This gathering serves as a prelude to a scheduled public impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, set to take place at 3:30 pm on Friday, October 30, 2026.
The meeting at 10, Rajaji Marg is seeing the arrival of the opposition's heaviest hitters. Among those expected to participate are the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Other key figures attending include party leader Pawan Khera, General Secretary KC Venugopal, and Jairam Ramesh.
Allegations of Democratic Subversion
The opposition's aggressive stance stems from deep-seated concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The INDIA bloc has leveled serious accusations against the Election Commission, claiming that the body is undermining the very foundations of electoral democracy and allowing irregularities to creep into the electoral process.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who announced the programme via X, has been particularly vocal. He alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner has not only violated the letter and spirit of the Constitution but has also misled the Supreme Court. Ramesh further claimed that the CEC has acted as a "willing executioner" for the ruling leadership.
Venue Struggles and Upcoming Rally
The decision to hold the impeachment programme at Mallikarjun Kharge's residence was born out of necessity. According to Jairam Ramesh, the "INDIA janbandhan" was denied other locations for their protest. Following the events at Rajaji Marg, the opposition plans to escalate their demonstration with a massive INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1.
BJP's Counter-Strike
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not staying silent in the face of these accusations. The party has ramped up its own preparations to neutralize the opposition's narrative. The BJP has launched the 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' campaign, aimed at countering the allegations leveled by the INDIA bloc.
Side-Attack on Asset Privatization
While the primary focus remains on the Election Commission, the opposition is also broadening its attack on the Central government's economic policies. Congress MP Imran Masood has accused the government of systematically selling off public sector assets built by previous administrations.
Masood highlighted several key points of contention:
- Privatization of Infrastructure: He alleged that railway stations, airports, banks, and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) are being treated as profit-making tools rather than national services.
- Legacy of Former PMs: He claimed the government is focused on selling assets established during the tenures of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Manmohan Singh.
- National Debt: In a startling claim, Masood alleged that the national debt has increased fourfold in the last 12 years compared to the total debt accumulated over the preceding 60 years.
Masood argued that these institutions were originally created to provide employment and serve the citizenry, rather than to generate profit for private interests.