INDIA bloc leaders stage sit-in protest at Rajghat demanding Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation

Top leaders of the INDIA bloc staged a sit-in protest at Rajghat on Thursday, accusing the BJP-led central government and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of undermining democracy and engaging in electoral malpractice.

The demonstration marked the third consecutive day of opposition agitation over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and demands for Kumar’s resignation. Opposition leaders paid floral tributes at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial and offered prayers for the protection of voter rights.

Congress leader Pawan Khera said the bloc had prayed for the safeguarding of democracy. CPI-M leader John Brittas stated that the protest would continue until the CEC resigns, warning that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah would “sink with him” if they attempt to protect him. CPI leader P Sandosh and CPI-M’s V Sivadasan also reiterated demands for Kumar’s resignation and emphasized opposition unity.

Earlier in the day, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hosted opposition leaders and MPs for a lunch meeting in Connaught Place. Attendees included TMC leaders Abhishek Banerjee, Saket Gokhale and Samirul Islam, SP leaders Rajeev Rai and Mohibullah, and RJD’s Sudhakar Singh. Following the meeting, leaders travelled by bus to Rajghat, accompanied by party workers.

Kharge stated that the agitation aims to draw national attention to government attempts to strip citizens of their voting rights. Rahul Gandhi earlier accused the Prime Minister, Home Minister, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and the CEC of executing a criminal conspiracy to destroy the Constitution and steal votes, asserting that the opposition will hold them accountable.

The latest demonstration follows a series of opposition actions this week, including an eight-hour sit-in staged by Gandhi at the Akashvani Bhawan complex on Tuesday, and a central Delhi protest on Wednesday that ended with police detaining opposition leaders.