Rahul Gandhi Hosts Tea Meet for INDIA Bloc Leaders After ‘March for Democracy’

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi hosted INDIA bloc leaders, opposition MPs, student organisations and civil society representatives for tea at his residence on Tuesday, as the Opposition intensified its campaign against alleged electoral irregularities and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The meeting at Gandhi’s 5, Sunehri Bagh Road residence followed Monday’s “March for Democracy”, during which opposition leaders and activists marched through central Delhi and submitted a petition to the Supreme Court challenging aspects of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

A joint press conference was scheduled after the gathering, with leaders expected to discuss a coordinated strategy against what they describe as “vote chori” (vote theft) and press for greater accountability from the Election Commission.

The march drew attention for its political symbolism. Rahul Gandhi was photographed holding a doll depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a Reuters photograph from the protest. Batman masks also featured prominently, with young protesters wearing superhero costumes and offering a mask to Gandhi. He was later seen helping Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wear one inside a bus carrying opposition leaders. The imagery followed Gandhi’s earlier social media remark that nobody had seen him and Batman in the same room.

Among those who joined the march were Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPI leader D Raja, CPI(M) leader M A Baby and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Supriya Sule. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Shashi Tharoor and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also participated.

Protesters carrying flags and placards crossed one barricade on Bhagwan Dass Road but were stopped at a second amid heavy security arrangements.