Thousands of protesters led by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi marched through central New Delhi on Monday to the Supreme Court, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged large-scale voter fraud — a confrontation that capped the third consecutive day of unrest in the Indian capital and drew a sharp rebuke from the country's top judge.

Waving giant Indian flags and chanting "vote thief", the crowds followed Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and leaders of the INDIA bloc from the Constitution Club to the court, where they filed a writ petition challenging alleged voter deletions and irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Al Jazeera reported.

Contents

  1. What the opposition is demanding
  2. A three-day standoff in the capital
  3. The chief justice declines a meeting
  4. Jantar Mantar loses its protest status
  5. The BJP's response
  6. FAQ
  7. Sources
  8. Chronicle related coverage

What the opposition is demanding

The petition, filed on Monday evening by Gandhi and ten other opposition figures — including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy — alleges large-scale voter deletions and manipulation in the SIR process. The leaders have asked the court to halt the revision, order an independent panel to examine the Election Commission's decision-making, and secure the removal of the chief election commissioner, according to Business Standard.

Gandhi framed the march as a defence of democracy itself. "We are in a fight to protect democracy and the constitution," he told supporters, urging citizens across the country to "raise your voice from wherever you are." Some protesters broke through police barricades erected to stop the crowd reaching the court, Al Jazeera's correspondent in the capital reported.

The opposition has campaigned for weeks on the slogan "vote chori" — Hindi for vote theft — claiming the electoral roll revision is being used to purge opposition voters. Protests against Kumar have spread beyond Delhi, with demonstrators detained in Bengaluru as well.

A three-day standoff in the capital

Monday's march followed two days of escalating confrontation. On Saturday and Sunday, youth organisations and the CJP political campaign brought thousands onto the streets of central Delhi; police detained large numbers of demonstrators who tried to reach Jantar Mantar, the city's traditional protest site. Student leader Neha Bora of the All India Students' Association and Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas were reportedly injured as security forces carried out detentions, and around a dozen journalists were held on Sunday while covering the protests — despite Supreme Court directives issued on Saturday restraining the authorities.

Authorities imposed an unprecedented security cordon across New Delhi, closing six central metro stations — Patel Chowk, Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat and Barakhamba Road — from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, and diverting traffic around the capital's core. The security build-up has emptied normally busy shopping districts during the festive season, with footfall in Connaught Place visibly down.

The chief justice declines a meeting

The opposition's hopes of a direct appeal to Chief Justice Surya Kant were dashed before the march began. The chief justice declined a request from Gandhi and Kharge for a meeting on Monday to submit a memorandum, citing sub-judice constraints: petitions concerning the SIR and the functioning of the Election Commission are already listed for hearing on Tuesday, October 13.

In open court on Monday, Justice Kant said peaceful democratic protests were legitimate but drew a line at the court's own doorstep. "The Supreme Court should not be dragged into it," he said. "Democratic activities must take place peacefully, but the Supreme Court's functioning should go on smoothly. We are not concerned about any political party."

Jantar Mantar loses its protest status

In a move that will reshape how Delhi protests are managed, the Delhi Police announced on Monday that Jantar Mantar has been de-notified as a designated protest venue. Acting on recommendations of a committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, police named three alternative venues — Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi — where demonstrations must now take place, The Hindu reported.

The BJP's response

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party dismissed the agitation as a pretext. Federal minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused Gandhi's Congress of "taking to attacking the constitution" because of its repeated election losses, arguing the protests were an attempt to undermine an independent constitutional body rather than defend it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What triggered the march to the Supreme Court?

Opposition parties allege that the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has deleted large numbers of legitimate voters. Rahul Gandhi led thousands to the court on October 12 to file a petition challenging the process and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

What does the opposition's petition ask for?

The writ petition, filed by Gandhi and ten other opposition leaders, seeks to halt the SIR, an independent committee to examine the revision process and the Election Commission's decision-making, and ultimately the removal of the chief election commissioner.

Why did the chief justice decline to meet the opposition?

Chief Justice Surya Kant cited sub-judice constraints: petitions on the SIR and the functioning of the Election Commission are already scheduled for hearing on October 13, so he directed the leaders to approach the court on its judicial side rather than through a private meeting.

What changed about protest venues in Delhi?

Delhi Police de-notified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site and named three alternatives — Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi — following a Home Ministry committee's recommendations.

How has the government responded?

The BJP says the opposition is attacking a constitutional body because of election losses. Delhi Police have defended their detentions, while six metro stations in central Delhi were shut for ten hours on Monday as a security precaution.

Sources

Chronicle related coverage