INDIA Bloc Meeting Reveals Strategic Differences Over Election Commission Campaign

Impeachment proposal, EVMs, CJP outreach and separate protests emerge as key points of disagreement

New Delhi, October 1: The INDIA bloc sought to project a coordinated opposition front at its meeting in New Delhi on September 30, with the Election Commission, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged electoral irregularities dominating the discussions.

However, reports from the meeting indicated differences among the alliance partners over the scope and strategy of the proposed campaign. The parties subsequently announced a coordinated programme of protests, including district-level demonstrations and rallies across the country.

Differences Over Removing the CEC

One of the key points discussed was the possibility of pursuing another parliamentary motion seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

According to reports, some opposition leaders favoured approaching parties outside the INDIA bloc to build wider support for such a move. Congress leaders, however, have reportedly expressed reservations about pursuing a strategy that had not produced the desired result in earlier attempts.

A separate notice seeking Kumar’s removal is already pending in the Rajya Sabha, according to reports.

Congress Demands and the Joint Action Plan

The Congress Working Committee had met a day before the INDIA bloc gathering and discussed demands concerning the Election Commission, SIR and the functioning of constitutional institutions.

Some demands raised within the Congress did not find a place in the final joint action plan in the same form. The INDIA bloc’s publicly announced programme instead focused on coordinated demonstrations, legal action and electoral reforms.

The alliance announced ‘Save Democracy’ marches at the district level from October 2 to 8, an MPs’ march to the Election Commission on October 6 and five major rallies during October and November. A major rally in Delhi has been scheduled for November 1.

Ballot Paper Demand Remains a Point of Debate

The demand for replacing electronic voting machines with ballot papers has also remained part of the opposition’s electoral reform campaign.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue at the party’s internal meeting, while the INDIA bloc subsequently included a return to ballot-paper voting among its stated demands. Other demands include use of pre-SIR electoral rolls, safeguards before deletion of a legitimate voter’s name and a more accessible voter-registration process.

Outreach Beyond the INDIA Bloc

Another issue concerns the extent to which the campaign should involve political groups and organisations outside the INDIA alliance.

Some opposition leaders have argued for broader participation, including non-INDIA parties and civil-society groups. The question of coordination with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has also generated political discussion, with different opposition leaders taking different positions on whether its campaign should be supported or integrated into the wider movement.

Separate Campaigns or a Common Platform?

Differences have also surfaced over the conduct of protests at the state and regional levels.

While some parties have indicated support for separate demonstrations, others have stressed that a common programme would provide greater coordination. At the same time, the INDIA bloc has now announced a nationwide joint programme against what its constituent parties describe as electoral irregularities and concerns surrounding the SIR process.

The Election Commission has defended its actions as being in accordance with the law, while opposition parties continue to press their allegations and demands through political and legal channels.

The developments highlight both the INDIA bloc’s effort to build a common campaign on electoral issues and the differences among its constituent parties over tactics, alliances and the next course of action.

(SDNA)