On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi opened the fourth day of the ‘vote chori’ protests by gathering 250 opposition MPs at Parliament House before marching to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The core demand remains the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar after allegations that the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls was manipulated to favour certain candidates.
The plan involves a foot march from the Central Hall to Rashtrapati Bhavan, with police expected to arrest any participants who refuse to disperse, and the opposition prepared to file legal challenges.
Congress sources say all opposition MPs will sign a memorandum to be presented to President Droupadi Murmu, while Shiv Sena leaders Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut and Arvind Sawant declined to attend, and Akhilesh Yadav’s party will send a few MPs after his absence.
Earlier this week, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained while attempting to march to Jantar Mantar, and Delhi Police registered FIRs against them, prompting the opposition to accuse the police of suppressing dissent.
The government is expected to announce a response by Friday, with the opposition poised to file a petition in the Supreme Court if the resignation demand is not met.