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The Opposition, INDIA bloc, conducted a symbolic 'public impeachment' of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on 31 Oct in New Delhi. The INDIA bloc leaders leveled six charges against Kumar, including conspiring with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to steal elections, deleting 132M voters through the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists, and acting at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. On 1 Nov, the INDIA bloc held a huge rally at the Ram Lila Maidan, Delhi, demanding Kumar's resignation. Over 100K people attended and chanted 'save the vote, save the country', and 'vote thief, give up power'. When traders from Connaught Place objected to the rally, citing difficulty for shoppers during the festival season, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi appealed to supporters to attend the rally and shop before heading home. However, the ruling BJP forcibly shut the market. Shah called it shameful that the rally was taking place on the 42nd anniversary of the 1984 Sikh genocide. BJP leaders Hardeep Singh Puri and Manjinder Singh Sirsa even took out a march against the rally. However, the Sikhs did not fall for the provocation, in which they would be used as pawns by BJP against Indian National Congress (INC). At the rally, Gandhi said, ‘This is not the voice of a single political party or of politicians. It is the voice of India's youth, women, farmers, and workers. We will not allow democracy to be destroyed in India. We will not allow the constitution to be destroyed.’ Meanwhile, in preparation for the 2027 Assembly elections, the INC leadership, led by General Secretary KC Venugopal and state in-charge Sachin Pilot, met with Panjab INC leaders and laid down rules: no solo campaigns, no individual projection, and absolute adherence to collective strategy. Recognizing the acute sensitivity surrounding centralized interference, Venugopal said neither he nor Sachin Pilot were from Panjab and could claim local positions. By directly addressing whispers of INC high-command imposition or external favoritism, the INC leadership is attempting to disarm anti-establishment narratives before the campaign formally kicks off with Gandhi's upcoming ‘Insaaf (Justice) Rally’ in Sangrur on 4 Nov. Panjab INC chief Pargat Singh said, 'The rally would be a voice for Panjab’s rights, farmers’ concerns, the future of its youth, and the people’s demand for justice. Panjab needs accountable governance to overcome the crises of drugs, unemployment, and deteriorating law and order’ (earlier coverage).
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi | Photo by The Hindu
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