The INDIA bloc, at its first meeting since the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, decided to write to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to raise concerns about the fairness of elections in the country. The opposition alliance alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is being used to 'influence electoral outcomes,' leading to 'mass disenfranchisement' and tampering with rolls.
Common Agenda and Demands
The bloc finalized a common agenda of political action, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for the 'betrayal of lakhs of students' who appeared in NEET and CBSE examinations. Crucially, they demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi call an all-party meeting to discuss the 'worsening economic crisis, intensifying price rise, growing unemployment, atrocities, and farmers' issues.'
Concerns Over Electoral Rolls
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a joint press conference after the meeting. All parties expressed concern that SIR, which started with the Bihar assembly polls, influenced election outcomes, as it has done in West Bengal. With former Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee present, Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav said the Bengal election was 'stolen,' while Congress's Rahul Gandhi alleged elections were being manipulated in favor of the BJP.
NEET-CBSE Row
The flagging of the NEET-CBSE row as the most important issue suggests the opposition will intensify protests in the coming days, currently limited to actions by Congress's youth organizations and Rahul Gandhi's vocal interventions.
Rise of 'Cockroach Janta Party'
Interestingly, National Conference's Omar Abdullah, CPI(ML)'s Dipankar Bhattacharya, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Uddhav Thackeray, and NCP (SP)'s Supriya Sule noted the emergence of 'Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)' overnight with a massive online following. They advocated supporting it, arguing the satirical outfit's issue has found resonance and the opposition should tap into that widespread resentment among youngsters.
