Karnataka CM Shivakumar leads INDIA bloc protest in Delhi over voting rights

The demonstration brings together senior Congress leaders, ministers, MPs, and MLAs to challenge policies they argue are disenfranchising voters. Shivakumar, speaking in Mysuru, positioned the protest as a defense of the country's democratic pillars—the legislature, executive, judiciary, and media—insisting that protecting the franchise is a moral obligation beyond standard political maneuvering. He noted that over 150 retired civil servants have lent their support to the cause, reinforcing the gravity of their concerns.

The mobilization faces significant friction in the capital, where Shivakumar reported that authorities have imposed security restrictions and curtailed internet access to stifle the gathering. Dismissing these measures as counterproductive, he confirmed his participation in the event and invoked the legacy of the Congress party as the architect of India’s democratic transition. When pressed on criticisms from JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy regarding a recent sting operation, Shivakumar largely brushed aside the remarks, focusing instead on the upcoming confrontation in Delhi.