New Delhi [India], June 30 (HBTV): INDIA bloc parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the DMK, have come together to raise concerns over the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and other election-related issues by writing a joint letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
Sources told ANI that extensive behind-the-scenes discussions led by major INDIA bloc parties helped secure the signatures of the DMK and AAP on the joint letter.
In a post on X, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said the letter, first discussed during the INDIA Janbandhan meeting on June 8, has now been signed by 23 political parties and one Independent.
'Twenty-one political parties plus one Independent attended the INDIA Janbandhan meeting on June 8, 2026, where a decision was taken to address a joint letter to the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India on the SIR process of the Election Commission of India and other election-related issues. Accordingly, a joint letter now signed by 23 political parties plus one Independent has been sent to the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India today. The Opposition parties are firmly anchored in SURE -- Solidarity, Unity and Resistance,' he wrote on X.
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien also confirmed the development, stating that parties, including the AAP and the DMK, were among the signatories to the letter.
Earlier, Jairam Ramesh had described the June 8 INDIA bloc meeting as 'good', saying the alliance had a constructive agenda on issues including the economy, Centre-state relations, protection of the Constitution and foreign policy.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the INDIA bloc must strengthen its unity and continue its coordinated approach against what he described as multiple governance challenges, including concerns over electoral processes, inflation, unemployment and institutional misuse.
'On April 17, 2026, we demonstrated our unity and solidarity in the Lok Sabha in a very decisive manner, when all of us came together firmly and defeated the Modi government's malicious bills on delimitation. Now we must strengthen and advance that same spirit, so that we can confront the many political, economic, social and foreign policy challenges facing the country due to the Modi government's misgovernance,' Kharge said during the INDIA Janbandhan meeting.
He further said coordinated efforts were needed to address what he described as challenges facing governance and institutions in the country.
'Due to SIR, the voting rights of millions of our people are being stripped away. The assault on the Constitution continues unabated. Investigative agencies are being continuously used as tools to harass, intimidate and bully political opponents. Discrimination is being meted out against non-BJP governments. Prices of essential goods are rising relentlessly, and the economic environment is extremely negative. The pace of new investments needed to create new jobs is simply not happening at the required pace. Private monopolies are growing in many sectors, and the future of MSMEs is in serious crisis. Due to the complete mismanagement of the examination system, the hopes and aspirations of lakhs of our youth are being betrayed. Atrocities against the weaker sections of society, especially in BJP-ruled states, continue unabated. Our foreign policy has been completely compromised, and those traditional values that India has long staunchly supported have not been upheld,' Kharge said.
The united Opposition's response to the SIR process reflects the alliance's ability to come together on specific issues despite differences within the bloc, presenting a coordinated challenge to the BJP.
Source: ANI