New Delhi: Senior opposition figures and alliance members gathered in the capital following a demonstration marching toward the Supreme Court to protest reported voter fraud and electoral irregularities. The participants, which included alliance members of parliament, civil society organizations, and student representatives, were hosted at a high-tea gathering by senior leader Rahul Gandhi at his Sunheri Bagh residence. The strategy session preceded a joint press briefing intended to map out a unified approach to ramp up political pressure on the central administration.
Speaking in an interview regarding the core demands of the coalition, senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Dr Shashi Tharoor emphasized that a primary objective is safeguarding and restoring the voting rights of citizens amid allegations of extensive voter deletions. He urged an immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision exercise, a comprehensive review of the software used for electoral rolls, and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Dr Tharoor cautioned that the alliance would explore impeachment proceedings if the election official refuses to step down.
In addition to electoral reforms, the Congress leader condemned the administrative denotification of Jantar Mantar as an authorized protest venue, characterizing the move as an effort by authorities to obscure public dissent. Pointing to ongoing demonstrations throughout central Delhi, he stressed that maintaining electoral transparency and a level playing field is fundamental to upholding the democratic process and ensuring fair elections.