Rahul Gandhi’s Akashvani Sit-In Leaves INDIA Allies Uneasy
Congress’ last-minute move during anti-EC protest reportedly caught alliance partners off guard
- Rahul Gandhi’s Akashvani move catches allies off guard
- INDIA bloc protest turns into prolonged sit-in
- Allies reportedly seek better coordination
- FIR filed after Akashvani Bhawan protest
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 7th Oct: A last-minute decision by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to enter Akashvani Bhawan during Tuesday’s INDIA bloc protest against the Election Commission has triggered unease among some Opposition allies, with questions being raised over coordination within the alliance.
The joint Opposition protest had begun as a march from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters, with INDIA bloc parties demanding action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations linked to electoral roll revisions. The march was stopped by police, after which several Opposition leaders were detained.
According to Congress leaders quoted in reports, the decision to move to Akashvani Bhawan was taken suddenly, leaving little time to inform alliance partners. Some allies reportedly felt that the broader INDIA bloc demonstration subsequently became centred on Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
After police stopped the march, Opposition leaders were detained and taken in buses to different police stations. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, however, entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises and began a sit-in.
Other Congress leaders, including K.C. Venugopal and Pawan Khera, subsequently joined them, while the protest continued for several hours.
The move was described by some Congress leaders as an improvised effort to keep the demonstration going after police action had effectively broken up the main march.
The sit-in eventually continued for around nine hours before Delhi Police detained the protesters. An FIR was subsequently registered over the alleged entry into the Akashvani Bhawan premises without permission.
Allies seek greater coordination
The development reportedly prompted calls between Opposition parties as some alliance partners questioned why they had not been informed about the change in protest strategy.
Reports said Trinamool Congress sent Derek O’Brien to Akashvani Bhawan, while the Samajwadi Party sent Rampur MP Mohibbullah Nadvi. Other Opposition leaders also reached the site as the sit-in continued.
Some INDIA bloc leaders reportedly questioned whether the demand for a meeting with Election Commission officials was consistent with the broader protest demanding the CEC’s resignation.
The reported disquiet reflects a larger challenge for the Opposition alliance: balancing a common political programme with the individual strategies and priorities of its constituent parties.
Congress defends element of surprise
Some Congress leaders, however, defended the sudden move, arguing that tightly scripted protests can lose momentum and that an element of surprise can keep demonstrations effective.
They pointed to earlier instances in which Congress-led protests had also taken unexpected turns and claimed that allies had joined those demonstrations subsequently.
The party has indicated that such spontaneous forms of protest could continue as it intensifies its campaign over the electoral-roll revision issue.
Tuesday’s episode therefore highlighted both the ability of the Opposition to sustain its protest despite police intervention and the coordination challenges within the INDIA bloc.
