INDIA Bloc to Hold Protest March in Delhi on Monday, Plans to Submit Memorandum to CJI
Congress leader K. C. Venugopal calls on citizens to join the demonstration over opposition allegations of voter fraud and demands for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
The opposition INDIA bloc will organise a protest march in Delhi on Monday over allegations of voter manipulation, with a delegation of senior leaders planning to submit a memorandum to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal has announced.
In a post on X, Venugopal urged citizens concerned about democracy to participate in what he described as a large scale demonstration against alleged electoral irregularities. The Congress and its opposition allies have accused the ruling BJP leadership of facilitating what they call “vote chori”, or theft of votes.
Venugopal said opposition leaders had held a detailed meeting to prepare for the march. He added that MPs, party leaders, workers and other concerned citizens would take part in the demonstration.
According to Venugopal, a delegation of senior opposition leaders will also approach the Chief Justice with a memorandum seeking judicial intervention in the matter. He reiterated the opposition’s demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to step down, saying the alliance would continue its campaign.
Opposition Leaders Meet President Murmu
The announcement came a day after INDIA bloc leaders met President Droupadi Murmu to raise their allegations of electoral irregularities. During the meeting, the opposition leaders reportedly demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and called for the cancellation of all Assembly elections held over the previous two years.
After the meeting, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said he was surprised that the President had not rejected the opposition’s allegations of election theft.
Gandhi also confirmed that opposition leaders intended to approach the Supreme Court on Monday and submit a memorandum to Chief Justice Surya Kant. He said the opposition wanted to explore all available options to address its concerns.
The allegations made by the opposition remain claims advanced by the INDIA bloc, and their merits would need to be assessed through the relevant legal and electoral processes.
Opposition Intensifies Campaign in Delhi
The INDIA bloc has stepped up its protests in the national capital since Tuesday, when opposition leaders marched from Parliament towards the Election Commission’s office. Police stopped the march before it reached its destination.
Rahul Gandhi subsequently staged an eight hour sit in at the Akashvani Bhawan complex, according to the report.
On Wednesday and Thursday, opposition MPs continued their demonstrations in central Delhi. Their activities included gatherings and marches towards Jantar Mantar and Rajghat, where they repeated allegations of electoral manipulation against the BJP leadership and the Chief Election Commissioner.
The opposition has maintained that its campaign will continue until its demands are addressed. Monday’s planned march and the proposed submission of a memorandum to the Chief Justice mark another step in its effort to bring the allegations before constitutional authorities.