States » EastPosted at: Oct 29 2026 8:08PM


Mamata Banerjee calls for united INDIA rally in Delhi, West Bengal Congress steps up ‘Vote Chori’ campaign

Kolkata, Oct 29 (UNI) Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday called for a united I.N.D.I.A. bloc gathering at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1 to protest against alleged “Vote Chori”, asserting that the fight was aimed at protecting every Indian’s right to choose.
In a post on X, Banerjee said the opposition alliance would stand united at the gathering scheduled for 12:30 pm on Sunday. She alleged that concerns over voting in West Bengal and other states required answers.
She described the campaign against alleged electoral manipulation as a fight to protect every Indian’s right to choose. “The fight against Vote Chori is a fight to protect every Indian’s right to choose,” Banerjee wrote, reiterating that concerns over voting in Bengal and other states demanded answers rather than silence.
Questioning several aspects of the electoral process, she raised concerns over the scrutiny of electronic voting machines (EVMs), voter data, electoral rolls and the counting of votes. She appealed to students, young people, women, workers and members of civil society to join the movement. “When the vote is under threat, silence is not an option. Let us stand together to DEFEND our DEMOCRACY and SAVE our CONSTITUTION,” she said.
The Congress also on Thursday intensified its campaign against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls in West Bengal, with party leaders demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and announcing participation in the united opposition rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan.
Under the slogan ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ (Save the Vote, Save the Country), Congress workers took out a march from College Street in Kolkata. However, police stopped the procession at Ganesh Chandra Avenue, preventing it from proceeding towards B.B.D. Bagh. The protesters subsequently staged a sit-in at the spot, holding posters and placards against the Election Commission.
The demonstration was attended by West Bengal Pradesh Congress president Shubhankar Sarkar, All India Congress Committee (AICC) observer for the state Prakash Joshi and co-observer Amba Prasad, among other party leaders and supporters.
Accusing the Election Commission of unfairly excluding a large number of voters from electoral rolls, Sarkar demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. “Names of a large number of voters have been deleted unfairly. We will not let the Election Commission get away with this. Gyanesh Kumar must resign,” Sarkar said.
He added that the opposition would raise the issue nationally at the November 1 gathering in Delhi, where parties belonging to the I.N.D.I.A. bloc are expected to unite against alleged ‘Vote Chori’.
Prakash Joshi, meanwhile, highlighted the issue of voters whose status remains unresolved in Kolkata and Howrah, where municipal elections are approaching.
“On the one hand, elections are approaching in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Howrah Municipal Corporation. On the other hand, around 1.2 lakh voters in Kolkata and another 40,000 in Howrah have reportedly been excluded from the electoral rolls, with decisions on their cases still pending,” he said. Joshi alleged that people were repeatedly being deprived of the opportunity to exercise their voting rights.
The figures cited by the Congress have added a municipal dimension to its wider campaign over electoral rolls and alleged voter exclusion. Congress leaders and workers from West Bengal are also preparing to travel to Delhi to participate in the November 1 rally.
Before the Delhi gathering, the party is scheduled to stage another demonstration before the West Bengal Election Commission on Friday, continuing its demand for accountability over the disputed voter lists and the alleged denial of voting rights.
The Congress has maintained that the Election Commission must address these concerns, while the opposition mobilisation seeks to turn the issue into a broader national campaign ahead of the forthcoming municipal elections in the state. UNI RC NST CDS
Tags: #Mamata Banerjee calls for united INDIA rally in Delhi# West Bengal Congress steps up ‘Vote Chori’ campaign
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