The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] played a key role in the August 11, 2025, protest by actively participating alongside other opposition parties from the INDIA bloc. The CPI(M)'s involvement was rooted in its long-standing and specific criticisms of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the electoral process.
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Here are the key aspects of the CPI(M)'s role:
Active Participation: CPI(M) leaders and MPs joined the protest march from Parliament to the ECI office, standing in solidarity with other opposition parties. Their presence underscored the unity of the INDIA bloc on this issue.
"Anti-Democratic Exercise": The CPI(M) has been particularly vocal in its condemnation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, especially in Bihar. The party views this exercise as "anti-democratic" and a direct threat to the fundamental right to vote.
3 Disenfranchisement Claims: The party has specifically alleged that the SIR is a pretext to disenfranchise large sections of the populace, particularly minorities and other vulnerable groups.
4 The CPI(M) argues that this process is being used to weed out voters under the guise of finding foreigners, a task it believes is beyond the ECI's constitutional authority.Broader Political Agenda: The CPI(M) sees the ECI's actions as part of a larger agenda aligned with the RSS/Sangh Parivar to manipulate voter lists and benefit the ruling BJP.
Lack of Transparency: The party has been critical of the ECI's lack of transparency, citing the refusal to disclose data or documents related to the voter roll revisions. It had previously urged the ECI to abandon the exercise and has been mobilizing for countrywide protests on the issue.
Alignment with Opposition Demands: The CPI(M)'s stance on electoral irregularities and the need for a transparent voter list aligns with the broader demands of the opposition bloc, reinforcing their joint message for electoral integrity and a fair process.
