Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Mamata Banerjee will lead a 10-member delegation to Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday. They are marching to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Sources told Times Now that all INDIA bloc MPs will join the protest march, not just the select few scheduled for the presidential meeting. The opposition is pressing for accountability regarding the Segmental Information Refresh (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The President’s office has not yet confirmed the meeting. However, the opposition has agreed to the condition of sending a limited delegation. Tejashwi Yadav is also part of the proposed group. This move follows a day of friction where INDIA bloc leaders alleged security forces prevented them from staging a demonstration at Jantar Mantar.
The core of the dispute remains the SIR process. Media reports claim Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months. They alleged some decisions were issued without their knowledge. The Election Commission, however, maintains that the three-member panel acts unanimously on all matters, including the SIR.
The protest marks a sharp escalation in the opposition’s agitation. They view the SIR as a threat to the integrity of the electoral roll. The coming day will test the President’s willingness to engage with the opposition’s specific demands for the CEC’s removal.