Staff Reporter / New Delhi
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi said there would be “serious” changes in the country in the months to come as the INDIA bloc on Wednesday resolved to launch a nationwide “Save Democracy” agitation from October 2 to 8 across districts, mounting a fresh political challenge to the BJP-led government and the Election Commission.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said all 20 parties that attended the meeting had agreed to take the campaign to the grassroots and fight what the Opposition described as threats to democracy and the electoral process. The bloc also announced a march by Opposition MPs to the Election Commission on October 6.
The meeting witnessed a sharp focus on EVMs, VVPAT, voter rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission, with the Opposition stepping up its demand for greater transparency in the electoral process. The issue of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar also figured prominently, with Opposition parties discussing action against him and demanding accountability.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a particularly sharp attack on the CEC, alleging irregularities in the electoral process and questioning the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. She has also alleged manipulation involving EVMs and called for action against Kumar. These are allegations by Banerjee and the Opposition, while the Election Commission has defended its procedures.
Rahul Gandhi said the coming months would witness “serious” changes, adding political weight to the alliance’s decision to take its campaign beyond Parliament and into the streets.
The INDIA bloc’s week-long mobilisation is set to put EVMs, voter rolls, the Election Commission and the role of the CEC at the heart of its nationwide campaign, signalling an intensified confrontation between the Opposition and the government ahead of the next electoral battles.