ECI acted like puppets, says Kharge after INDIA bloc meeting
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI) following a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders at the Constitution Club of India on Wednesday, alleging that the poll body was being played like puppets by Modi and Shah. The remarks came amid growing tensions over a rupture within the Election Commission.
Top opposition leaders decided to hold a joint protest march to the ECI on October 6 and announced a "save democracy" rally in New Delhi on November 1. Kharge outlined a broader protest agenda, stating the opposition would conduct a "save democracy" march from October 2-8 in all districts across the country. All Opposition MPs from both houses will participate in the October 6 march to the ECI office in Delhi, irrespective of their political affiliation if they believe in saving the country. TMC leader Mamata Banerjee demanded the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, alleging he burnt EVMs, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stated that all parties believe India's democratic system has been attacked by Modi, Amit Shah, and Gyanesh.
Kharge also told opposition allies to demand "voting through ballots instead of EVMs" and listed six opposition demands. He said the opposition would seek an appointment with the President of India to highlight these problems, vowing that the opposition "will not allow transparency to be replaced by secrecy" and "will not allow the fundamental principle of our Republic—one person, one vote, one value—to be weakened."
