Congress leader Rahul Gandhi climbed a police barricade and waved the national flag during a protest by opposition parties in New Delhi on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in voter list revisions.
Leaders and lawmakers of the opposition INDIA bloc gathered at Makar Dwar of Parliament and marched towards Nirvachan Sadan, the Election Commission of India's (ECI) headquarters, carrying banners reading “Save Democracy” and chanting slogans against Kumar.
Gandhi, who moved through a large crowd of protesters, climbed a barricade after police stopped the march at multiple security barriers. His action drew loud cheers from opposition leaders and supporters.
Gandhi and his sister, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were detained and taken onto a police bus. However, the two later got off the bus and continued towards the ECI headquarters.
The protest centred on alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have accused the commission of manipulating voter registrations to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The commission and the government have denied wrongdoing.
The INDIA bloc has been developing a broader campaign against Kumar since a strategy meeting last week. The protest has also received support from some young activists associated with the satirical Cockroach Janata Party.
Two alliance partners, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), did not participate in Tuesday's march.
The Congress plans to continue its campaign through the winter session of Parliament, seeking to keep the election-related allegations in the public spotlight. The party and the Samajwadi Party also hope to sustain attention ahead of assembly elections in five states scheduled for February.
At a meeting on Monday, the Congress discussed its next steps and began referring to the Election Commission as the “Cheating Commission”.
Under its campaign plan, the party will organise a “Save Vote, Save Country” programme from October 10 to 20 at the block level, including bicycle and motorcycle rallies, the burning of an effigy of Kumar and leaflet distribution.
Booth-level public meetings, known as chaupals, are scheduled from October 25 to November 25, with senior Congress leaders participating.
A major rally will be held at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on November 1. The party also plans six marches from areas around Delhi on November 25 and 26 under its “Chalo Delhi” campaign. The marches will converge in the capital on November 26, Constitution Day.
The Congress intends to raise the issue during Parliament's winter session, which begins after November 26, and pursue an impeachment motion against the chief election commissioner.
The opposition is also monitoring a Supreme Court case concerning the Election Commission. The court has issued notices to Kumar and the commission and indicated that disputed election-related decisions could potentially be stayed if they were not reached unanimously.
However, the Supreme Court has so far declined to take immediate action against Kumar, observing that newspaper reports are not necessarily entirely accurate. Hearings in the case will continue.