The INDIA bloc on Tuesday announced a month-long protest programme, including district-level “Save Democracy” marches from October 2 to 8 and a march by opposition MPs to the Election Commission on October 6.

The decision came after a three-and-a-half-hour meeting attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav and NCP-SP’s Supriya Sule.

The bloc will seek an appointment with the President in the second week of October, hold five big rallies across the country and conclude the programme with a rally in Delhi on November 1.

Key demands include a return to ballot papers and an early hearing in the Supreme Court on petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Congress president Kharge said the alliance was united in defending democratic institutions.

The parties said the detailed schedule of the district-level marches would be announced by state units in the coming days, with coordination committees set up in each state.