Guwahati: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said the party would continue its campaign against alleged “vote chori”, as the INDIA bloc prepare to hold a mock Parliament session on October 30 and a rally on November 1.
Kharge accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of misconduct and said sustained protests were necessary to raise public awareness about alleged electoral irregularities.
“Our protest continues because of this Vote Chori and the mischief that CEC Gyanesh Kumar has done within the Commission. We are protesting against this and will continue our fight,” Kharge said in a statement shared by the Congress on X.
“There is a Mock Parliament tomorrow, and on November 1, we are holding a rally where people are coming from across the country. We will fight because, in a democracy, unless you fight, people will not be awakened,” he added.
The INDIA bloc’s mock Parliament session was initially planned at the Ashoka Hotel, but the organisers decided to hold it at Kharge’s residence after Delhi Police denied permission, Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed told reporters.
“We had sought permission from the Delhi Police, but they did not grant it. So, we will hold the Mock Parliament at his house, at the president’s residence,” Mohamed said.
She also criticised Kumar, alleging that the Chief Election Commissioner had acted improperly and saying the bloc would hold him accountable.
CPI(M) MP John Brittas said the event would reflect public demands for Kumar to leave office. He clarified that the session would not be a formal impeachment proceeding but would follow a structured format.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar is expected to preside over the session, with representatives of different political parties speaking. Brittas said the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha would move the motion, while the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha would sum up the discussion.