The INDIA bloc on Wednesday (September 30, 2026) announced a nationwide 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 for expedited hearings in cases related to the SIR and alleged electoral “malpractices”.
Sibal recommended that the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, should be legally challenged. On October 6, Opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission headquarters. Because of Rajya Sabha polls in his State, samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav skipped the meeting.
Mr. In view of this, he suggested that legal action be taken against other Election Commission officials such as Seema Khanna, Director General (IT) at ECI, who have been instrumental in bringing Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Most leaders backed the proposal. There was, however, apprehension among some leaders 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. The CJI had observed, “These are only by-elections. There was no direct reference to involving the Cockroach Janata Party. However, leaders agreed that the bloc should engage with civil society and secular parties outside the INDIA alliance. Mr. “These people are only winning elections by stealing votes. Mr. Notable absentees included the DMK, which has refused to share a stage with Congress after the latter switched its support to the TVK following the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. JMM chief and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren joined the meeting virtually.
The legislation states that “notwithstanding other laws, no court could entertain or continue civil or criminal proceedings against a person who was or had been CEC/EC for an act, thing, or word committed, done, or spoken while discharging official duty or function,” extending a blanket immunity to the CEC. 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 top INDIA bloc leaders. Kharge alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were making the Election Commission function like a “puppet”. When our people oppose this, they are harassed,” he said. He alleged that the BJP was winning elections because they were “stolen”.
Kharge said some leaders had wanted to hold the march on Wednesday itself, though others suggested a later date to allow all MPs to participate.
