INDIA Bloc Plans November Protests Against Election Commissioner

The INDIA bloc is planning a wave of nationwide protests in early November to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The opposition accuses the Election Commission of India of facilitating the deletion of eligible voters during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, a practice they characterize as "vote chori" (vote theft).

Central to the campaign is a major rally scheduled for November 1 at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. To maintain pressure, the alliance is considering a "mock parliament" featuring jurists and former judges to symbolically trial the commissioner. These efforts follow an October 6 march toward the Election Commission headquarters that led to the detention of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and an October 12 "March for Democracy."

Legal and diplomatic channels have also been pursued. Opposition leaders met President Droupadi Murmu on October 9 to demand Kumar's resignation and the repeal of a 2023 law protecting election commissioners. Additionally, a joint petition filed by leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge prompted the Supreme Court of India to issue notices to the commission regarding the electoral roll revisions.

On October 22, a virtual strategy meeting chaired by Mallikarjun Kharge was scheduled to establish a roadmap for the protests, though reports indicate the meeting was subsequently deferred. This delay occurs as the government considers convening Parliament to pass a Constitution amendment bill regarding delimitation.