INDIA Bloc Plan “Vote Chori” March, But Police Deny Permission
Over 300 MPs from 25 opposition parties have planned a march from Parliament’s Makar Dwar to the Election Commission of India (ECI) office, protesting alleged “vote chori” (vote theft) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and raising concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in poll-bound Bihar.
Authorities Say No Permission Filed
The Delhi Police have confirmed that no permission request was submitted for the march. Without the required approval, the demonstration is unlikely to be allowed to proceed to the ECI office, which is less than two kilometers from Parliament.
United Opposition, Diverse Participation
The INDIA bloc—which includes Congress, Samajwadi Party, TMC, DMK, AAP (recently separated but still invited), Left parties, RJD, NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and National Conference—is backing the protest. They are carrying multilingual banners (in Hindi, English, Tamil, Bengali, and Marathi) to highlight voter roll concerns and lobby for transparency.
Push for Digital Voter Lists
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has launched an online campaign and a portal to engage citizens in demanding digital voter rolls from the ECI. He stated, “Vote chori is an attack on ‘one man, one vote.’ A clean voter roll is critical.”
Why This Matters
This protest highlights growing concerns over electoral integrity and government transparency. The refusal to grant protest permission raises questions about public dissent and engagement processes. As the political season heats up, how authorities handle such demonstrations will shape perceptions of election fairness.
