The move follows weeks of protests in Delhi that began on May 24, when the INDIA alliance staged a 3‑km march demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Singh over the controversial Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi released a video on May 27 urging civil society and the public to join the march, promising that the protest would be a ‘democratic movement’ rather than a party‑centric rally.
The bloc’s decision to replace party flags with the national tricolor stems from on‑site observations that a party‑flagged march drew fewer students and lawyers, according to sources within the alliance; an insider said the presence of party flags alienated younger activists.
By carrying only the national flag, leaders hope to signal unity and inclusiveness, a move that has already attracted invitations from law‑student groups and NGOs, who plan to march under the banner of ‘Chalo Delhi.’
Observers note that the switch could galvanise Gen‑Z participants, who have been vocal in recent protests against the Election Commission’s handling of the SIR, and might pressure the government to reconsider the commissioner’s role.
The protest will culminate at the Supreme Court on June 3, where a televised rally is scheduled, aiming to amplify the call for the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation.