New Delhi: Announcing a comprehensive joint action plan over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) controversy, the INDIA bloc on Wednesday declared that it will hold nationwide rallies and 'save democracy marches,' with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge stating that all member parties unanimously agreed elections must revert to paper ballots instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

The opposition coalition made the announcement following a three-and-a-half-hour strategy meeting attended by top leaders, including Kharge, former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, and NCP(SP) MP Supriya Sule.

Addressing a joint press briefing after the meeting, Kharge outlined the roadmap agreed upon by the bloc.

As part of the agitation, "save democracy" marches involving youth groups and NGOs will be conducted across the country from October 2 to 8, alongside demonstrations outside district magistrate offices.

On October 6, all opposition MPs will march in protest to the Election Commission.

Furthermore, Leaders of the Opposition plan to seek an appointment with the President of India in the second week of October to submit a formal representation against "the vote chori government".

"We will hold a five big rallies and a date and place of which would be decided. We will tell people how the government is snatching the right of the people to elect their government for running the country," Kharge said.

Drawing a parallel with previous economic policies, Kharge added: "Now everyone is realising that what Rahul ji was saying is correct and it is attracting attention. First Prime Minister Narendra Modi did 'notebandi' now doing 'votebandi', taking away people's rights."

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Kharge also stated that INDIA bloc leaders appeal to the Supreme Court that it should expedite the cases of SIR and electoral malpractices.

When asked about the proposal to return to paper ballots, Kharge confirmed that everyone 100 per cent agreed on it that all elections should be on ballot and that the laws framed by this "chori government" in power should be annulled.

The meeting saw participation from across the political spectrum, with several leaders—including Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM chief Hemant Soren—joining online.

"With unanimity, everyone vowed to fight together," Kharge stated.

Taking direct aim at the Union leadership, Kharge charged that the real "puppeteers" of the Election Commission are Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

"The pawns are just a front, the PM, HM are behind the vote chori and thus they are winning polls," Kharge alleged, adding that they are "harassing" those fighting for democracy.

Joining the briefing, Rahul Gandhi emphasised that all constituent parties shared a common stance on the current state of democratic institutions. He stated that all parties are of the opinion that the democratic structure of India has been attacked by Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Shah and CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

"We are not going to take it lying down, we will ensure that those who have destroyed Indian democracy are punished," he warned.

Rahul Gandhi added that the Opposition has been quite successful in conveying to people that the PM and the HM have destroyed democracy and elections are stolen.

"I mentioned to all opposition leaders that they are the collective defenders of the Constitution and in the next few months we will make serious changes in the country," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.

Describing the ongoing situation as a "scandalous matter", TMC chief Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the Chief Election Commissioner.

"Gyanesh Kumar is a 'chor', daaku'... he must resign immediately. Let us save democracy. Voting is our constitutional right," the former West Bengal chief minister said.

"Our forceful demand is that if Gyanesh Kumar is not removed, this (agitation will go from 'mitti to aasmaan' (every corner)," Banerjee added.

The high-level meeting was attended by representatives from 19 political parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, All India Trinamool Congress, NCP(SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), Rashtriya Janata Dal, CPI(M), CPI, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, CPI-ML, IUML, Kerala Congress (M), Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Kerala Congress (Jacob), and the All India Forward Bloc. Independent Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal was also present.

The Opposition's joint strategy session comes in the backdrop of recent media reports by The Indian Express revealing that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded formal objections on file at least 14 times over the past 10 months. Their objections pertained to key decisions and operational orders regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) that were allegedly issued without their prior knowledge or approval.

Responding to criticisms over internal notes raised by its commissioners, the Election Commission maintained that differing observations and internal checks are a standard part of institutional deliberations, asserting that all official orders strictly follow statutory procedures and carry full legal validity. (PTI)