Congress has deferred its planned protest rally in Bengaluru, meant to expose what it alleges as “serious malpractices” by the Election Commission, to August 08, following the death of veteran tribal leader and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren.
The decision to postpone the event, initially scheduled for August 05, was made after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party MP Rahul Gandhi confirmed their presence at the cremation of Soren in Ranchi on Tuesday. Soren, a founding figure of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and a long-time advocate for tribal rights, passed away in New Delhi on Monday morning at the age of 81 after a prolonged illness.
Congress general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala confirmed the postponement at a press conference in Bengaluru, stating that the party leadership found it appropriate to defer the programme out of respect for the departed leader.
“Tomorrow is the cremation. Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge will be going to Jharkhand tomorrow to pay their last respects to the departed leader. In light thereof, since it would have clashed with the programme tomorrow, and this programme has national ramifications, the programme will now remain as it is but will remain deferred to August 08, 2025,” said Surjewala.
Describing the decision as a collective one, he added, “CM Siddaramaiah has also been apprised, and he also agrees. So, in light of the suggestions made by DK Shivakumar, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC, we have all decided to defer the programme to 8th August.”
The proposed rally was aimed at spotlighting alleged irregularities in the electoral process. Congress has accused the Election Commission of arbitrarily excluding the names of numerous voters in the draft rolls published for Bihar, an allegation that it claims undermines electoral fairness and democratic participation.
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On Sunday, Congress MP KC Venugopal had announced the party's plans to hold a rally in Bengaluru to reveal the “serious malpractices” committed by the Election Commission.
“The names of many voters have been ‘excluded’ from the draft electoral rolls for Bihar recently released by the EC,” Venugopal said.
Congress maintains that the issue carries national implications, as electoral transparency is central to democracy, and has reiterated that the 8 August rally will go ahead with full vigour.
The party also used the moment to pay homage to Soren. Surjewala, while addressing the media, extended heartfelt condolences to the Soren family and the JMM cadre on behalf of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and the All India Congress Committee.
“Former CM, leader of the JMM, Shibu Soren, expired this morning. CM Hemant Soren has also informed about the demise of Shibu Soren. On behalf of KPCC and AICC, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Hemant Soren, to the entire family and lakhs of JMM workers and supporters, not only across Jharkhand but in other states. He was a champion of tribal rights,” he said.
“He was a champion of the poor. He was a champion of the downtrodden. His memory and work & words will always continue to inspire the Congress party and also JMM in Jharkhand and in the rest of the country,” Surjewala added.
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