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Strategic Shift to Street Protests and Parliamentary Action
The opposition INDIA bloc, led by the Indian National Congress, has announced plans for a sustained campaign against the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The strategy involves taking the issue to both the streets and Parliament during the upcoming winter session.
Congress directed its state, district, and block units to organize protests across the country on Thursday, October 8. The party described this date as a ‘Black Day’ for democracy in relation to the SIR exercise. This directive marks a formalization of a strategy first discussed at the Congress Working Committee meeting on September 29, where the party decided to take the issue to the streets.
A day after the Working Committee meeting, opposition parties met under the INDIA bloc framework and agreed to “hit the ground” with a joint campaign. The plan includes rallies in several states, a march by opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) to the Election Commission headquarters, and a major public meeting in Delhi on November 1.
The INDIA bloc has decided to jointly approach the Supreme Court to challenge a 2023 law that grants immunity to the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners for decisions taken in the course of their duties. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has been reaching out directly to leaders and MPs of other opposition parties, inviting them to lunch meetings to project unity within the bloc.
Recent Demonstrations and Police Encounters
The strategy was put into action on October 6, when opposition MPs from both Houses marched towards the Election Commission’s office. Opposition MPs were stopped midway during the march, but Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra managed to enter the Akashvani Bhavan premises, where they remained for several hours.
The sit-in, which Congress described as an “impromptu” decision, ended after police detained the siblings and other Congress leaders accompanying them and took them to a police station; they were later released. A day later, they were all invited to lunch by Kharge after which the MPs boarded buses and attempted to head to Jantar Mantar Road.
Police barricaded the route to Jantar Mantar Road, causing the Opposition to turn it into a roadshow. The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, led by Devendra Yadav, held a march to Raj Ghat shortly before opposition MPs were scheduled to meet for lunch.
Broader Campaign and Political Context
The INDIA bloc has been on the streets demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The opposition is likely to continue the street campaign before taking the SIR issue to Parliament during the winter session, aiming to maintain pressure on the government until there is a resolution to their concerns over the SIR exercise.
Opposition parties will use the protests to reach out to voters and highlight what they allege are attempts to undermine citizens’ right to elect their representatives. The INDIA bloc-led by Congress has decided to take on the Bharatiya Janati Party on the streets of the National Capital and other major cities, signaling a coordinated effort to challenge the ruling party's electoral machinery.
