India's opposition took its fight to the Election Commission's doorstep on Tuesday. The INDIA bloc staged a 'Save Democracy March' from Parliament's Makar Dwar to the commission's headquarters in New Delhi, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha opposition leader, and party president Mallikarjun Kharge led the march, which followed a Sept. 30 bloc strategy meeting that also included Sonia Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
But the show of unity had visible cracks: the Aam Aadmi Party and the DMK both skipped the march, exposing strains inside the alliance.
Congress used the moment to announce an extended 'Vote Bachao Desh Bachao' campaign: block-level rallies and foot marches starting Oct. 10, village-level 'Vote Raksha Chaupals' from Oct. 25 to Nov. 25, a mega 'Chalo Delhi' rally at Ramlila Maidan on Nov. 1, and six yatras converging on Delhi on Nov. 26.
Delhi was under heavy security for the march. The BJP and the Election Commission have rejected the allegations, setting up a protracted institutional standoff with weeks of street mobilization ahead.
