The INDIA bloc has finalised a joint action plan on electoral processes, voter lists and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), including district-level protests from October 2 to 8, a march by opposition MPs to the Election Commission on October 6 and a major rally in Delhi on November 1. The decisions were taken at a meeting of the INDIA bloc in New Delhi on September 30, 2026.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced the multi-stage programme at a press conference after the meeting. Under the plan, opposition parties will organise ‘Save Democracy Marches’ and demonstrations at the district level from October 2 to 8. On October 6, opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission’s office.
The opposition leaders will also seek an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu in the second week of October. The alliance has decided to organise five major rallies, including the proposed rally in Delhi on November 1. The locations of the remaining four rallies will be decided later.
The INDIA bloc meeting took place amid opposition concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and changes to voter lists. Opposition leaders raised issues concerning the deletion of names from voter lists, transparency in the electoral process and the use of EVMs.
After the meeting, Kharge said the opposition parties would jointly pursue these issues. He included the opposition’s allegations relating to the electoral process and its claim of ‘vote theft’ among the key issues for the campaign. He also said opposition parties were united in demanding that elections be conducted using ballot papers instead of EVMs.
The allegations of irregularities in the electoral process and ‘vote theft’ are claims made by opposition parties. The Election Commission has issued explanations on its procedures and these allegations on different occasions. The claims therefore remain allegations and assertions by the respective political parties rather than established facts.
October 6 is a key date in the INDIA bloc’s announced programme. Opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission’s office to raise their objections concerning the electoral process, voter lists and the functioning of the poll panel.
Between October 2 and 8, ‘Save Democracy Marches’ and demonstrations will also be organised in different districts across the country. The alliance plans to hold demonstrations outside district magistrates’ offices, taking its campaign over electoral issues to states and districts across the country.
The opposition alliance has decided to seek an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu in the second week of October. INDIA bloc leaders will seek to present their questions concerning the electoral process and constitutional institutions before the President.
The opposition has said that issues relating to the independence of democratic institutions and public confidence in the electoral process need to be discussed. The ruling side has rejected the allegations and defended the Election Commission’s procedures.
The INDIA bloc has decided to organise five major rallies. The main proposed rally will be held in Delhi on November 1. The locations of the other four rallies will be decided later.
The alliance’s programme extends beyond Parliament and Delhi. Through district-level demonstrations and marches across the country, opposition parties plan to raise their issues concerning the electoral process before the public.
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi stressed the need for opposition parties to work together at the meeting. He said opposition leaders were collectively responsible for protecting the Constitution. Gandhi also said that democracy is bigger than any one individual.
Gandhi again raised the issue of alleged ‘vote theft’ in elections and said the opposition was taking the issue before the public. According to him, the issue was also drawing a response from young people.
These claims by Gandhi are political allegations. The Election Commission and the central government have issued responses on different occasions to allegations concerning the electoral process and voter lists.
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee levelled allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demanded his resignation. She said the right to vote is a constitutional right of citizens and that protecting it is the responsibility of the opposition.
Banerjee claimed that 92 lakh votes had allegedly been manipulated in West Bengal and cited an alleged figure of more than 13 crore across the country. She also raised questions about the alleged use of software in the electoral process and issues related to EVMs.
The figures and allegations have not been independently verified and should be presented as claims made by Banerjee and the opposition. The Election Commission has maintained that its actions concerning the electoral process and voter lists follow legal and prescribed procedures
The INDIA bloc’s strategy includes multiple stages, beginning with district-level demonstrations and extending to a major rally in Delhi. The programme includes local-level events from October 2 to 8, the march to the Election Commission on October 6, an attempt to meet President Murmu in the second week of October and the proposed Delhi rally on November 1.
Through this programme, opposition parties plan to raise their questions concerning the electoral process, SIR, changes to voter lists and EVMs on a common political platform.
The meeting sought to project unity among opposition parties, although participation by all INDIA bloc constituents was not uniform. According to the information provided, the Aam Aadmi Party did not attend the meeting. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was also absent. Other opposition leaders expressed support for joint action.
The ruling side has criticised the INDIA bloc’s agitation and its allegations against the Election Commission. BJP leaders have accused the opposition of creating confusion over constitutional institutions and have defended the Election Commission’s procedures.
The first phase of the INDIA bloc’s announced programme will begin on October 2. This will be followed by the proposed march by opposition MPs to the Election Commission on October 6. The attempt to meet President Murmu in the second week of October and the proposed major rally in Delhi on November 1 will form the subsequent stages of the campaign.
The developments centre on political and institutional questions concerning the electoral process, SIR, voter lists, EVMs and the role of the Election Commission.
