Opposition's INDIA Bloc convened in New Delhi on Wednesday to forge a unified strategy for a nationwide agitation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and to press for the resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former chief ministers Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretaries Jairam Ramesh and K C Venugopal, and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee joined the meeting along with leaders from the Samajwadi Party, CPI, CPI(M), NCP(SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT). DMK and AAP were absent, while SP chief Akhilesh Yadav cited Rajya Sabha nomination duties as a reason for missing.
K C Venugopal told reporters on Tuesday that the bloc would coordinate its agitation programme with that of the Congress, aiming to mobilise supporters across the country. He added that the meeting would formalise a clear action plan for a mass protest to safeguard democracy.
The motion to remove the CEC follows a series of objections by EC officials Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, who recorded at least 14 complaints over the past ten months regarding SIR orders issued without their knowledge or recommendation.
The Election Commission defends its actions, stating that divergent views are part of institutional deliberations and that all orders are legally sanctioned and follow statutory procedures.
The bloc’s last gathering on 8 June saw a unanimous demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET‑CBSE row and a letter to the Chief Justice of India on the SIR exercise. The upcoming motion in Parliament will be tabled before the next parliamentary session, with the opposition expecting the government to resist.