INDIA bloc to launch 'Save Democracy' marches from October 2, will march to Election Commission

New Delhi: The INDIA bloc on Wednesday (September 30, 2026) announced a nation-wide campaign beginning Friday (October 2, 2026), with a graded agitation plan that includes protest marches at district headquarters, public meetings, a march to the Election Commission and a joint appeal to the Chief Justice of India for expedited hearings in cases concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged electoral malpractices.

The decisions were taken after a three-and-a-half-hour meeting attended by 33 leaders from 19 political parties. Independent MP and senior Supreme Court advocate Kapil Sibal also participated.

Mr. Sibal recommended that the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, be challenged in law. The legislation states that, notwithstanding other laws, no court may entertain or continue civil or criminal proceedings against a person who is or has been the Chief Election Commissioner or an Election Commissioner for an act, thing or word done or spoken while discharging official duty. Bloc leaders described this provision as granting blanket immunity to the CEC. Mr. Sibal suggested that legal action also be taken against other Election Commission officials, naming Seema Khanna, Director General (Information Technology), whom he said had been instrumental in bringing the SIR. Most leaders backed the proposal.

The SIR is a special drive to revise electoral rolls, involving door-to-door verification of voters. Opposition parties have alleged that it could leave eligible voters off the rolls, while the Election Commission has said the exercise is intended to remove entries of persons who have died, shifted or are duplicated.

Some leaders, however, expressed apprehension about the Supreme Court's stance. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who joined the meeting virtually, cited the Chief Justice of India's observation while declining an early hearing of pleas related to the SIR in West Bengal: "These are only by-elections."

Leaders also agreed that the bloc should engage with civil society organisations and with secular parties outside the INDIA alliance. The INDIA bloc, formally the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, is a grouping of opposition parties formed ahead of the 2024 general election.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the leaders had agreed to fight together. "With unanimity, everyone vowed to fight together," he said at a press conference attended by senior bloc leaders.

Mr. Kharge alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were making the Election Commission function like a "puppet". He alleged that the BJP was winning elections because votes were "stolen", and that opposition supporters were harassed when they protested. The Election Commission and the Bharatiya Janata Party have in the past rejected similar allegations of bias and malpractice.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that democratic institutions were under attack from the BJP, Mr. Modi, Mr. Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. "We are not going to take it lying down," he said, adding that the bloc would ensure that "people who have destroyed Indian democracy are punished, no matter how senior they are and who they are".

Under the plan, "Save Democracy" marches will be held in every district between October 2 and 8. The proposal was made by CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya and initially faced resistance from some leaders who cited State-specific political concerns. Senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, eventually backed it.

On October 6, Opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission headquarters. Mr. Kharge said some leaders had wanted to hold the march on Wednesday itself, while others suggested a later date so that all MPs could take part.

The leaders will also seek an appointment with the President to brief her on what they described as the constitutional hurdles being created by the government. During the meeting, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed concern that such requests were often declined, or that the President's office limited the size of the delegation.

The bloc will also hold five rallies across the country during October and November.