A show of resistance on Delhi’s streets as Rahul Gandhi-led 'INDIA' bloc marches to SC, files plea against CEC

Lawyers representing the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi moved the Supreme Court on Monday over alleged large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, even as Delhi Police prevented INDIA bloc's protest march at barricades on Bhagwan Dass Road in Delhi.

The plea, filed by Rahul Gandhi and 10 other Opposition leaders, challenges the manner in which the Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken decisions relating to the SIR process. The petition seeks an independent committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to audit deletions and modifications in electoral-roll databases, including ECINET and ERONET. The Opposition has also sought an interim suspension of the ongoing SIR pending adjudication.

Advocate S. Prasanna, who is part of Gandhi's legal team, confirmed to ANI that the plea had been filed before the top court.


The petitioners have also sought disclosure of the ECI's complete files, agendas, minutes, notings and objections concerning the disputed decisions, including the June 24, 2025 decision to commence the SIR. They have also sought access logs for ECINET and ERONET.

Besides Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the petitioners include Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saugata Roy, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, CPI(M) MP M A Baby, CPI leader D Raja, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Majhi, NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule and Indian Union Muslim League leader E T Mohammed Basheer.

Earlier in the day, Opposition MPs and leaders, joined by hundreds of supporters and activists, took to the streets for their “March for Democracy”. They were heading towards the Supreme Court to submit a petition over their allegations of “vote chori” or vote theft and against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Several prominent opposition leaders were a part of this march, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, CPI leader D Raja, CPI(M) leader M A Baby, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, NCP-SCP leader Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut, CPI-ML leader Dipankar Bhattacharya and IUML leader E T Mohammed Basheer.

Among the protesters were present Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Shashi Tharoor, Sachin Pilot and Mukul Wasnik. TMC leaders Sagarika Ghosh, activists Yogendra Yadav and Nandita Narayan and AISA chief Neha Bora also joined the demonstration.

The march comes on the heels of a protest-packed weekend in the national capital where members of the Cockroach Janata Party, student organisations and opposition political parties were detained by the Delhi Police over their calls for mobilisation at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi calls on opposition parties, civic groups, others to join INDIA bloc protest march on Oct 12

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, along with former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, arrived at the Constitution Club. Congress MP Amrinder Raja Singh Warring, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and All-India Students Association leader Neha Bora were among those who were marching to the Supreme Court.

Bihar Leader of Opposition and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said, "Lathicharge is being carried out, and RSS goons have also been deployed. The entire country is watching this... SIR process began in Bihar long before it started elsewhere. You all witnessed it there. We had opposed it at the time as well because we knew something was fishy. Now, the truth has come out. They will not be spared."

'The more they protect him, the more they are going to face problems'

Rahul Gandhi, briefing the media, said the government was protecting Gyanesh Kumar and warned that moves to protect the CEC would only intensify the confrontation. Gandhi added the opposition bloc would continue its protests and movements unit Kumar stepped down from his role and there was a full revamp of the system in which elections are conducted in India.

Gandhi alleged that Delhi had effectively become a fortress with massive deployment of police and paramilitary personnel. He further said the government was using the personnel to stop people from joining the movement and claimed that a huge chunk of the force are sympathetic to the opposition and protestors' demand. He added that the way protests were handled have only made the INDIA bloc and students stornger.

The Member of Parliament said the opposition would be approaching the Supreme Court later in the day and file a petition with the apex body. He further appealed to the masses regaring joining the agitation and described the Constitution as his religion and the voice of the country.

"We will not stop, since truth is with us," Gandhi said. He called on everybody to gather at the Connaught Place-Barakhamba Road junction and march to the Supreme Court.

‘Congress’s idea-less leadership is the reason for its defeats’

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, responding to the opposition said the Congress was targeting constitutional institutions due to their frustration over failing to electoral wins and argued that the party was unable to take responsibility for its successive losses.

He further cited Congress' lacklustre performance in the recent bypolls, Assam and municipal elections in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Tripura. Chouhan added that leadership problems and divisions within the party were the reasons behind Congress' defeats, not the Election Commission of India.

"The reason for Congress's defeat is not the Election Commission; the reason for Congress's defeat is Congress's own idea-less leadership. What is the current state of the Congress? There is infighting in Uttar Pradesh. In Punjab, they have had to change the state president. In different places, there are conflicts over leadership. In Karnataka, sometimes it's Siddaramaiah, sometimes it's D.K. Shivakumar. In Telangana, there is internal conflict," said Chouhan.

Taking a swipe at the Congress leadership, Chouhan invoked the Hindi proverb “Naach na Jane Aangan Tedha”, meaning a bad dancer blames the floor, to argue that the party was unwilling to accept responsibility for its repeated losses. He said the Congress had lost public confidence and was continuing to suffer defeats across elections.

'Need to submit evidence along with allegations'

Former Union Minister and current BJP Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur said Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party need to carry evidence along with allegations else were just making mockery of India's judicial system, while addressing media personnel.

Thakur also referred to the President and the Supreme Court while questioning Gandhi’s approach to the matter. He said the President had asked Gandhi to provide evidence and claimed that the Supreme Court had cautioned him against using the court as a political platform.

“How can you approach CJI when the matter is sub-judice,” Thakur asked.

He accused the Congress and Gandhi of threatening India's judiciary and urged them not to spread anarchy.

A protest-packed early October

The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha had earlier announced that the INDIA bloc would take to the streets again on October 12, alleging that Delhi Police and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers used violence against students and women during the CJP-led protests in Delhi.

Gandhi called for the "Challo Dilli" protest march which is expected to get underway this afternoon from Connaught Place to the Supreme Court against the functioning of the Election Commission.

The protest is seen to take place despite the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, not giving his consent to a meeting with the opposition MPs on the issue.

Rahul Gandhi was detained multiple times by the Delhi Police last week, after the Indian National Congress leader entered the Akashvani building in a bid to reach the Election Commission of India. He was detained again the following day when he called for a march to Jantar Mantar after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hosted a lunch for Opposition MPs at Sagar Ratna on Janpath Road.

Security remained tight in Central Delhi on Monday, with barricades seen at multiple locations. Metro stations in Lutyens Delhi remain closed till 4:00 PM. Security personnel have been deployed at Barakhamba Road, near Mandi House. RAF (Rapid Action Force) and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) personnel are also deployed along with Delhi Police personnel.

Also Read: SC bars illegal detention; orders normal Metro, rail, net services

The Supreme Court on Sunday, directed authorities to stop illegaly detaining peaceful protestors and ordered for metro services to be resumed, while ensuring free and uninterrupted movement of people and internet in the national capital. Over 7,000 protestors including senior politicians had been detained by the Delhi Police over the weekend. Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka - the leaders of the CJP- were also detained from inside their Mumbai-Delhi flight on Saturday.

Multiple metro stations were closed on Saturday and Sunday while internet facilities remained unavailable around Jantar Mantar and central Dehi.