JAMMU — Leaders of the INDIA bloc met in Jammu on Saturday to discuss the opposition alliance’s proposed course of action over its concerns regarding the functioning of the Election Commission of India and its demands concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The leaders later held a joint press conference and announced a “Save Democracy” Yatra on October 7, 2026.
The march, as per the leadership, will begin from Dogra Chowk and culminate at Dr Ambedkar Chowk, with alliance leaders saying the programme is aimed at raising issues related to democracy, constitutional values and public concerns.
Earlier, the meeting was chaired by senior Congress leader and former minister Raman Bhalla, with participants of constituent parties of the INDIA bloc in Jammu and Kashmir—including the Congress, National Conference, PDP, and Panthers Party—discussing the alliance’s further programme and mobilisation on electoral issues.
The INDIA bloc has alleged what it describes as “institutional capture” of the Election Commission and has called for the removal, prosecution and arrest of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. These are demands being raised by the opposition alliance as part of its broader campaign on electoral transparency and accountability.
The meeting and the consequent announcement of the Yatra come amid a series of political programmes and protests by Congress and other opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir over issues concerning the electoral process.
The J&K Congress held protests in the Jammu region on October 2, with Bhalla calling for transparency in the electoral process and raising concerns about the functioning of the Election Commission.
At the national level, INDIA bloc leaders had also met in New Delhi on September 30 to finalise a joint course of action on issues concerning the Election Commission and to press for CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
The J&K meeting discussed the alliance’s proposed further course of action and mobilisation as part of its campaign on electoral and democratic issues.
The matter remains part of an ongoing political debate, with opposition parties raising concerns about the functioning of the poll panel and the Election Commission maintaining that its decisions and administrative directions have legal sanction.
The article first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse at https://kashmirpulse.com/politics/india-bloc-to-hold-save-democracy-march-in-jammu-over-sir-voter-rights/116664.html
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