New Delhi: The INDIA bloc is preparing to scale back its daily protests against the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during the ongoing festive season, but opposition leaders have indicated that their campaign will continue through other forms of political action.
The decision follows five consecutive protest marches in Delhi and a fresh legal challenge in the Supreme Court concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the functioning of the Chief Election Commissioner. Opposition parties are now considering a less frequent protest schedule as festivals, state election preparations and the difficulty of sustaining daily demonstrations affect mobilisation.
At a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders convened by Rahul Gandhi, the alliance discussed ways to maintain pressure on the Election Commission without allowing the campaign to lose momentum. Leaders are expected to organise protests intermittently rather than continue daily marches throughout the festive period, which includes Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali and Chhath.
Speaking after the meeting, Rahul Gandhi indicated that the change in strategy should not be interpreted as an end to the agitation. He emphasised that the opposition would continue its resistance and hinted at a surprise move without revealing further details. He also signalled that the alliance would challenge restrictions on demonstrations at Jantar Mantar.
The opposition’s immediate challenge is to sustain public attention while party leaders and workers return to their home states for festival commitments and election-related activities. Some leaders reportedly considered taking demonstrations to other locations, including Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency. However, Delhi remains the preferred venue because of its political visibility.
The Congress is also scheduled to organise a rally in the national capital on November 1, while further demonstrations could be announced closer to their planned dates.
The alliance is also attempting to expand its campaign beyond political parties by engaging student groups, civil society organisations and other participants concerned about electoral processes and democratic accountability.
Representatives from several opposition parties have discussed building a broader platform to demand transparency, electoral fairness and accountability.
With daily marches likely to become less frequent, the INDIA bloc is expected to rely on legal action, interparty coordination and wider public mobilisation to keep its campaign against the SIR exercise and the Election Commission in the political spotlight.
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