Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc hit the streets of Delhi in a united march to Parliament, accusing the Modi government of throttling democratic debate, ignoring unemployment, and using probe agencies to target rivals.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, August 11, 2025:
Delhi Police on Monday detained several opposition MPs, including Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, to prevent them from marching past barricades at Sansad Marg towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters. Around 300 Members of Parliament from the INDIA Alliance had set out from Parliament House to protest alleged “vote chori” (vote theft). They were stopped at Sansad Marg, where police had erected heavy barricades. Several lawmakers attempted to scale the barricades in defiance, prompting swift intervention by officers, who blocked their advance and detained multiple participants.
The march, led by Rahul Gandhi, aimed to demand transparency and accountability from the ECI, particularly regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and broader claims of voter list manipulation across states.
The protest, which began at 11:30 a.m. from Parliament’s Makar Dwar, covered a distance of approximately two kilometers to Nirvachan Sadan, the ECI’s office. The demonstration marked one of the first major joint actions by the INDIA bloc outside Parliament since the 2024 Lok Sabha election results. MPs from 25 opposition parties, including Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Trinamool Congress (TMC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and National Conference, participated in the march, holding placards and posters in various Indian languages decrying “vote chori.”
The INDIA bloc has accused the ruling BJP of colluding with the ECI to manipulate voter lists, particularly in Bihar, where the SIR exercise is alleged to disenfranchise certain voter groups. Rahul Gandhi, a key figure in the protest, has repeatedly emphasized the need for clean and auditable voter rolls, stating, “Vote Chori is an attack on the foundational idea of ‘one man, one vote’. A clean voter roll is imperative for free and fair elections. Our demand from the EC is clear – be transparent and release digital voter rolls so that people and parties can audit them.”
LIVE: INDIA Protest Against Vote Chori | Parliament to EC Office, New Delhi https://t.co/cqZLbNDTKX
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 11, 2025
The opposition’s grievances center on claims of large-scale electoral fraud, including duplicate voters, fake or invalid addresses, and improper voter registrations. Rahul Gandhi recently cited an analysis of the Mahadevapura assembly segment in Karnataka’s Bangalore Central constituency, alleging that over one lakh votes were fraudulent, with 11,965 duplicate voters, 40,009 voters with invalid addresses, and 4,132 with invalid photos. The INDIA bloc contends that such discrepancies enabled the BJP to secure victories in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and other state polls.
Gandhi has also accused the ECI of destroying CCTV footage and failing to provide electronic voter lists, further fueling suspicions of complicity. Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal echoed these sentiments, questioning whether the ECI was acting as an “agent” for the BJP and vowing that the opposition would not back down in its fight to safeguard democracy.
In response, the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer has sought evidence from Gandhi to substantiate claims, such as an allegation that a voter named Shakun Rani cast her ballot twice in the 2024 elections. The ECI has also requested documentation to support accusations of voter list irregularities in Karnataka, Haryana, and Maharashtra, warning Gandhi to either provide proof or apologize for what it called “absurd” charges.
Delhi Police sources reported that the INDIA bloc had not sought formal permission for the march, leading to heightened security measures, including barricades along the route from Parliament to the ECI office. Visuals shared on X showed police arrangements at key locations like Kartavya Path, Sansad Marg, and Transport Bhawan, indicating a significant security presence to manage the demonstration.
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The ECI, however, granted the opposition MPs an appointment at 12 p.m. on Monday to discuss their concerns, signaling a willingness to engage despite the lack of prior permission for the march. INDIA bloc floor leaders also sought a formal meeting with Election Commissioners to address the issue of electoral transparency.
The march is part of a broader campaign by the INDIA bloc to highlight alleged electoral fraud. On Sunday, August 10, Congress launched an online portal, votechori.in/ecdemand, and a phone number (9650003420) to mobilize public support against “vote chori.” The portal claims that over one lakh fake voters in a single constituency helped the BJP win seats and calls for citizens to join the fight to “defend democracy.” Upon registration, users receive a certificate stating their support for Gandhi’s demand for digital voter rolls.
The opposition has also planned a two-week “yatra” in Bihar starting August 17 to raise awareness about voter list issues, with participation from all INDIA bloc parties. Additionally, Congress announced a comprehensive audit of voter lists from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, focusing on 48 constituencies where INDIA bloc candidates lost by fewer than 50,000 votes.
At the INDIA bloc MPs’ protest today. We are all asking why @ECISVEEP could not give serious answers to the serious questions raised by @RahulGandhi, rather than insisting on formalities like an oath and an affidavit (when the data cited is all the EC’s own data anyway). It is… pic.twitter.com/E1Ptve3gzQ
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 11, 2025
The march follows a series of strategic meetings among INDIA bloc leaders, including a dinner hosted by Rahul Gandhi on August 7 and another scheduled for Monday evening at Hotel Taj Palace in Chanakyapuri, hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. These gatherings, attended by leaders like Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Abhishek Banerjee, Uddhav Thackeray, and Farooq Abdullah, underscore the opposition’s resolve to present a united front against perceived threats to democratic processes.
Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai described the march as “just the beginning,” hinting at plans for a “big revolution” if justice is not served. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari likened Rahul Gandhi’s leadership to Mahatma Gandhi’s, emphasizing the opposition’s commitment to protecting democratic principles.
The INDIA bloc’s march to the ECI headquarters represents a critical escalation in the opposition’s campaign against alleged electoral malpractices. By mobilizing 300 MPs and leveraging public platforms like X and online campaigns, the alliance aims to pressure the ECI into ensuring greater transparency in India’s electoral process. As tensions rise, the outcome of this protest and the ECI’s response could have far-reaching implications for the integrity of India’s democratic institutions
The opposition’s resolve was clear in Venugopal’s words: “We won’t leave this issue. We want a reply from the ECI.” As the INDIA bloc continues its fight, the nation watches closely to see whether these allegations will lead to tangible reforms or further polarize the political landscape.
