'Save Democracy March' from Oct 2-8: INDIA bloc steps up stir against CEC; BJP hits back
INDIA bloc announces nationwide Save Democracy March from Oct 2-8, demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and a return to ballot papers.
The INDIA bloc has escalated its political confrontation with the Election Commission of India, announcing a nationwide protest programme titled the "Save Democracy March". Following a high-level coordination meeting at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on Wednesday, the opposition alliance demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and a return to ballot papers for future elections.
Demands for Institutional Reform
The alliance, comprising major parties such as the Congress, SP, AITC, RJD, and CPM, presented a list of non-negotiable demands aimed at addressing alleged institutional failures. According to Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, the bloc is calling for:
- The immediate removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
- The use of ballot papers instead of EVMs for future elections.
- A rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and a return to pre-SIR electoral rolls.
- An effective appeals mechanism for voters excluded from rolls due to technical or administrative reasons.
Addressing the meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the democratic principle of "one person, one vote, one value" is under threat. He claimed that approximately 13.3 crore voters have been removed from voter lists, effectively snatching their democratic rights. Kharge further questioned the integrity of the CEC, noting that two fellow members had written 14 times in just 10 months regarding electoral issues.
Timeline of the Protest Movement
The opposition has outlined a strategic roadmap for their agitation:
- October 2 to October 8: District-level "Save Democracy March" across the country.
- October 6: Opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission.
- Second week of October: Opposition leaders will meet President Droupadi Murmu to raise concerns regarding institutional issues.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee emphasized that the protests would persist until Gyanesh Kumar resigns and also called for the resignation of Prime Minister Modi, urging support from students, youth, and journalists to "save democracy." Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi stated that the leadership is committed to ensuring those who "destroyed Indian democracy" are held accountable.
BJP Slams Opposition's "Frustration"
The BJP has reacted sharply to these developments. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticized the opposition's stance, labeling the allegations as a manifestation of "frustration after defeat." He remarked that the opposition's attitude seems to be that "if they win, democracy zindabad; if they lose, Election Commission murdabad."
The coordination meeting saw participation from a wide spectrum of political forces, including the SP, AITC, NCP(SP), SS (UBT), RJD, CPM, CPI, JKNC, JKPDP, JMM, CPI-ML, IUML, KC(M), MDMK, VCK, RSP, KC(J), and AIFB. Notably, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was absent but sent two MPs to represent the party.