HighLights
  1. INDIA bloc met over Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision irregularities.
  2. Planned 'Save Democracy' marches, EC protest, and President meeting.
  3. Demands include ballot voting, electoral transparency, and voter protection.

INDIA Bloc Meet: INDIA bloc on Wednesday held a key meeting over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in New Delhi. After the meeting, the bloc said Opposition parties stand united to protect the Constitution of India.

The parties that participated in the meeting were: Congress, Samajwadi Party, All India Trinamool Congress, NCP(SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), Rashtriya Janata Dal, CPI(M), CPI, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, CPI-ML, IUML, Kerala Congress (M), Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Kerala Congress (Jacob) and All India Forward Bloc. However, MK Stalin's DMK and Arvind Kejriwal Aam Aadmi Party skipped the meeting.

ALSO READ: Nitish Mention, DUSU Loss And ECI-SIR Row: Why Sonia, Rahul Gandhi Rapped Congress Leaders At Key CWC Meet

Key Decisions Taken In The Meeting

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, while addressing a press conference after the meeting, shared INDIA bloc's plan of action:

- District-level 'Save Democracy' marches from October 2 to October 8

- On October 6, opposition party MPs will march to the Election Commission of India

- Opposition party leaders will seek an appointment with the President, Droupadi Murmu, in the second week of October

- INDIA bloc will organise five major rallies. The date and places will be decided later.

- INDIA bloc's demand is: All cases related to SIR in the Supreme Court should be resolved as soon as possible

ALSO READ: EC Removes SIR Declaration From Form 6 In States Where Revision Is Complete; What Voters Need To Know

In an X post, Kharge shared a statement, highlighting INDIA bloc's Six demands:

First, the pre-SIR electoral roll to be used for future elections. Complete transparency in every electoral-roll revision, including constituency-wise and booth-wise information on additions, deletions and corrections.

Second, due notice, reasons and an effective appeal mechanism before any legitimate voter is removed from the roll.

Third, protection of eligible voters from exclusion caused by administrative failures, inadequate documentation or lack of awareness.

Fourth, voting through Ballots instead of EVMs.

Fifth, simple and accessible voter registration for our young citizens, particularly first-time voters.

Sixth, institutional accountability and an Election Commission that commands confidence across the political spectrum.

Earlier in the day, top leaders of the INDIA bloc discussed an action plan for a joint agitation over alleged irregularities in the SIR with the Congress asserting that the opposition stands united to protect the Constitution from "repeated assaults" of the Modi government, including its "vote chori gameplan" to remain in power.

Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretaries Jairam Ramesh and K C Venugopal, the TMC's Mamata Banerjee, and leaders from parties such as the SP, CPI, CPI(M), NCP(SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), among others, were present at the meeting.

While the DMK and the AAP skipped the meeting, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav also did not attend on account of nominations for Rajya Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, the meeting comes days after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected on record at least 14 times over the past 10 months to decisions and orders on the SIR that they said were issued without their knowledge or recommendation. Under fire over the red flags raised by two of its commissioners over the SIR process, the EC has asserted that differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberations in any institution and all its orders carry full legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.

(With PTI inputs)


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