Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is set to host INDIA bloc leaders for lunch in New Delhi on Thursday, October 8, for the second consecutive day, as the Opposition steps up its campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The lunch is scheduled for 1:45 pm at Moets in Connaught Place's Outer Circle, according to sources, and is expected to be followed by another protest. The planned gathering comes amid escalating tensions between Opposition parties and the Election Commission over allegations concerning the revision of electoral rolls. The Opposition has accused the poll panel of irregularities linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), while the Election Commission and the BJP have rejected allegations of political bias.

Thursday's lunch follows a similar meeting hosted by Kharge on Wednesday at Sagar Ratna on Janpath. The gathering was followed by an attempt by INDIA bloc MPs to travel by buses towards Jantar Mantar for a protest against Gyanesh Kumar. Police stopped the buses near the intersection of Janpath and Ashoka Road, preventing the leaders from reaching the designated protest site. Rahul Gandhi and several other Opposition leaders were subsequently detained after refusing to abandon the demonstration. The sequence of a strategy lunch followed by an attempted protest has now become a feature of the Opposition's latest campaign, with Thursday's gathering expected to determine the next course of action.

The previous day's confrontation followed several days of protests in the national capital. On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA bloc leaders had staged a prolonged protest after police stopped their march towards the Election Commission. The leaders later held a sit-in near Akashvani Bhawan before being detained. Delhi Police have also registered FIRs in connection with the protests, including a case relating to allegations that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises without permission. Another FIR was subsequently reported in connection with alleged assault on police personnel and obstruction of government work during a later demonstration. The allegations remain subject to the legal process.

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Rahul Gandhi has remained defiant in his criticism of the Election Commission and his demand for Kumar's resignation. During Wednesday's confrontation, he said the Opposition would continue protesting until the Chief Election Commissioner resigned and described the campaign as a fight to protect what he called the country's most important democratic institution. Opposition parties have linked their protests to concerns over the SIR exercise and what they describe as potential irregularities in electoral rolls. The Election Commission, however, has denied allegations of wrongdoing, while the BJP has dismissed the Opposition's accusations. The dispute has consequently developed into a broader political confrontation over the credibility of the electoral process and the functioning of the country's constitutional election authority.

The INDIA bloc's efforts to present a united front have also faced some complications. The Samajwadi Party did not attend Wednesday's lunch hosted by Kharge, with Congress leaders attributing the absence to the short notice given to alliance partners. SP sources, however, have indicated concerns about consultation and coordination over the Opposition's recent protest strategy. Akhilesh Yadav and other SP leaders had participated in earlier demonstrations and were among those detained by Delhi Police. Despite the absence of the SP from the first lunch meeting, Congress leaders have played down suggestions of a broader rupture within the alliance. The participation of other Opposition parties in the protests and strategy meetings remains central to the bloc's effort to maintain a coordinated campaign against the Election Commission.

Thursday's proposed lunch and protest come as the confrontation over Gyanesh Kumar and the electoral-roll revision enters another phase. Opposition leaders are expected to discuss their immediate strategy at Moets before deciding on the next demonstration, with reports indicating that the protest details were being kept relatively closely guarded. The approach follows Wednesday's effort to surprise police by moving from the lunch venue towards Jantar Mantar by bus. Police intervention prevented the leaders from reaching the planned location, but the Opposition has indicated that it intends to continue its campaign. The repeated demonstrations, detentions and FIRs have added to political tensions in the capital, while the Election Commission's position remains that its electoral-roll processes are being conducted within the established legal and administrative framework.

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