The proposed virtual meeting of INDIA bloc leaders on the future course of action on protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has been deferred, PTI reported on Thursday, citing sources. The meeting was to be held on Thursday evening to deliberate on the roadmap for protests over the “vote chori” issue and on ways to press for the CEC's resignation. There was no intimation about the next meeting of the grouping, PTI said.
Source: PTI via Dailyworld
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was to chair the meeting, which was also to review preparations for the INDIA bloc's rally in Delhi on November 1, PTI reported. ANI had earlier reported, citing sources, that the leaders would meet by video conference to discuss strategy in the ongoing row involving the CEC, amid the Opposition's sustained campaign over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls — allegations the Election Commission has rejected, maintaining that it follows established procedures.
Source: ANI via Devdiscourse
JD(U) questions the bloc's rationale
Reacting ahead of the meeting, the JD(U) questioned the rationale behind the INDIA bloc, pointing to a lack of consensus among its constituents on leadership, common issues and a joint electoral strategy. JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad told PTI that the bloc's parties will be seen contesting against each other in upcoming state elections — citing Punjab, where the AAP and Congress fight each other, and West Bengal, where the TMC, Congress and Left parties have been opponents.
Source: PTI via News89
The deferral comes amid speculation that the government could convene Parliament to pass a Constitution amendment bill involving delimitation, linked to the early implementation of the Women's Reservation Act, PTI reported. The 'vote chori' campaign had reached the Supreme Court earlier this month, when Opposition leaders and civil society members joined a “March for Democracy” on October 12 and filed a joint petition against the SIR of electoral rolls; Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hosted bloc leaders for tea at his home on October 13, after which the bloc vowed to take the fight to its logical conclusion.
Source: PTI via Dailyworld
What: INDIA bloc virtual meeting (chair: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge) to plan 'vote chori' protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and review the November 1 Delhi rally. Status: deferred, per PTI citing sources; no next date announced. The SIR/'vote chori' claims are the Opposition's allegations; the ECI has rejected them and defended its procedures.