BJD Joins INDIA Bloc Protest Against Chief Election Commissioner

The Biju Janata Dal has formally aligned with the INDIA bloc, confirming that its members will join a high-stakes protest march today against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The coalition is targeting the poll panel over the alleged arbitrary deletion of 13 crore voters during recent electoral roll revisions.

Editorial·October 6, 2026·reads: 1,710

BJD Joins INDIA Bloc Protest Against Chief Election Commissioner

BJD leader Naveen Patnaik directed his party’s parliamentarians to participate in the demonstration, a move confirmed by Rajya Sabha member Manas Mangaraj. The protest, scheduled to commence at 10:30 am from Makar Dwar, aims to pressure the Election Commission of India at its Nirvachan Sadan headquarters. The opposition’s momentum has been further bolstered by recent Supreme Court observations regarding Form 6, which CPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar described as a turning point for the movement.

Security forces have bolstered their presence around the commission’s office as leaders from across the INDIA bloc prepare to voice their grievances. This march serves as a centerpiece of the broader "Save Democracy" campaign, intensifying the ongoing confrontation between opposition parties and the poll panel regarding transparency in the Special Intensive Revision process. The opposition remains steadfast in its demand for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, signaling a significant escalation in political tensions within the national capital.