The INDIA bloc stepped up its campaign against the Election Commission on August 11, 2025, with around 300 Opposition MPs planning to march from Parliament to the poll panel’s headquarters in New Delhi over allegations of electoral irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
The march, led by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, was scheduled to begin from Parliament’s Makar Dwar at around 11.30 am and proceed towards Nirvachan Sadan, the Election Commission’s office on Ashoka Road.
The Opposition has been using the phrase “vote chori” to describe what it alleges are irregularities in voter lists and electoral processes. The INDIA bloc has particularly opposed the SIR exercise in Bihar, arguing that the revision could result in eligible voters being excluded from the electoral rolls.
The Congress has also raised allegations concerning voter rolls in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura Assembly segment. Rahul Gandhi has claimed that the constituency contained large numbers of duplicate, invalid-address and other allegedly problematic voter entries. The Election Commission has disputed the Opposition’s assertions and has described some of the claims made by Gandhi and the Congress as misleading.
The proposed march followed an INDIA bloc strategy meeting in New Delhi, where Opposition leaders discussed their response to the Bihar SIR exercise and allegations concerning electoral rolls. A joint march to the Election Commission was among the actions agreed upon by the parties.
However, the march faced a procedural hurdle. Delhi Police said the INDIA bloc had not sought permission for the planned procession from Parliament to the Election Commission headquarters. The Election Commission had earlier indicated that, because of space constraints, it could accommodate a delegation of 30 representatives for an interaction.
The Opposition said it wanted to submit a memorandum to the poll panel and press for greater transparency in electoral rolls. Gandhi has also demanded access to digital voter-roll data so that political parties and citizens can examine the lists.
The Election Commission, meanwhile, has maintained that the electoral-roll revision process involves participation from political parties and has cited its orders, progress updates and statements from party representatives in response to Opposition criticism.
The planned march marked a significant joint street mobilisation by INDIA bloc parties over the electoral-roll controversy, bringing together MPs from several Opposition parties to raise concerns about SIR and alleged electoral irregularities.
