Key Points
- Over 50 opposition leaders and MPs from 24 parties attended Rahul Gandhi’s high-profile dinner in Delhi on August 7, 2025, including SP, RJD, Shiv Sena, DMK, NCP, CPI but not TMC.
- The focus was a strong united strategy against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, amid allegations of voter disenfranchisement.
- Rahul Gandhi presented detailed proof of “vote theft” in recent elections, rallying parties to demand transparency and fair elections.
- The bloc resolved to keep the SIR issue alive in Parliament and public protests, including a joint march to the Election Commission planned for August 11.
- Opposition leaders agreed to field a single joint candidate for the upcoming Vice-President election, with further consultations among all major parties.
- Senior Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi and NC’s Farooq Abdullah emphasized the meeting’s unity, demand for voter rights, and push for discussions on Rajya Sabha seat vacancies and statehood for Jammu & Kashmir.
New Delhi: Delhi’s political temperature soared as Rahul Gandhi hosted more than 50 senior leaders and MPs from 24 opposition parties for a pivotal “unity dinner” a show of strength for the INDIA alliance in the face of what they call an “electoral emergency.” Aside from TMC, all major opposition parties including Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Shiv Sena (UBT), DMK, NCP (SP), CPI, and others were present, marking one of the boldest displays of alliance cohesion this session.
“Democracy Destroyed”: Rahul Gandhi’s Vote Theft Proof
At the core of the evening was Rahul Gandhi’s presentation, “Democracy Destroyed,” which showcased alleged booth-level fraud in recent elections, with specific data from Karnataka’s Bangalore Central and Maharashtra. He detailed five key ways votes were reportedly “stolen,” citing fake addresses, duplicate entries, and improper photos on voter rolls. Gandhi accused the Election Commission of colluding with the government to sway results, vowing legal as well as public agitation for transparent polls.
The alliance decided to launch a march to the Election Commission on August 11, demanding full voter list transparency in Bihar and elsewhere. The meeting also finalized plans for a Bihar Yatra to be led by Rahul framed as a direct response to what the bloc terms the “war on electoral fraud.”
United Action on Bihar’s SIR and Voter Rights
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive in Bihar in which nearly 52 lakh names were removed from voter rolls was at the meeting’s core. Parties argue this disproportionately disenfranchises the poor and marginalized, and allege the exercise aims to influence Bihar’s upcoming Assembly election. The bloc resolved to press for a debate in Parliament, demand a halt to the revision, and maintain pressure both inside and outside the legislature.
Senior Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi stressed that “right questions have been asked of the government; we will not let up the pressure.” Farooq Abdullah highlighted demands for Jammu & Kashmir statehood and discussions on filling Rajya Sabha vacancies signaling a broad agenda beyond Bihar.
Consensus Vice-President Candidate in Works
Another major outcome: consensus to field a single INDIA Alliance candidate for the Vice-President’s post. Consultations among “big leaders” will soon finalize a name to represent the bloc, aiming to send a powerful political and ideological message even if numbers favor the ruling party. The opposition also decided it would “consider any overture” from the government regarding the VP nominee but remained skeptical based on recent experience.
Looking Ahead
As INDIA Bloc leaders converged on strategy and narrative, the alliance’s public protest calendar and united VP strategy mark a new phase in opposition politics. With allegations of voter list rigging and electoral roll “purges” in Bihar as the rallying cry, Rahul Gandhi and allies signal they plan “continuous protest” in Parliament, on the streets, and at the Election Commission until their demands on election integrity, parliamentary debate, and inclusive democracy are met.
The era of opposition fragmentation appears over for now with the “unity dinner” crystallizing Rahul Gandhi’s emergence as a central face of INDIA’s campaign for electoral justice, minority rights, and constitutional accountability.
