INDIA Bloc Leaders Plan Statewide Protests Over SIR

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud held a meeting with INDIA bloc leaders at Gandhi Bhavan and announced a series of programmes over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and concerns raised by the opposition over the Election Commission. Goud said the alliance parties would jointly organise rallies at district headquarters on October 6 and stage protests outside the offices of district authorities. He also announced a proposed protest at Lok Bhavan on October 8 and a “Chalo Delhi” programme on November 1. The INDIA bloc has separately announced a nationwide protest schedule over SIR, including district-level demonstrations from October 2 to 8 and a march to the Election Commission on October 6.

Goud alleged that eligible voters were being removed from electoral rolls and accused the BJP-led government of acting against constitutional principles and misusing central agencies. He also criticised the Election Commission over the SIR exercise and demanded action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. These are allegations made by the Congress and INDIA bloc; the Election Commission has defended the SIR process, while BJP leaders have rejected the opposition’s allegations and said the exercise is aimed at correcting electoral rolls.