Opposition Marches to India’s Supreme Court Amid Allegations of Voter List Manipulation
The opposition parties in India have demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the mass removal of names from the voter rolls. On Monday, the Indian National Congress and the ‘India’ alliance organized a protest march titled ‘Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy’ to the Supreme Court in New Delhi. Chief Justice Surya Kant declined to meet Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, but Gandhi stated the march would continue unabated. October 12, Kathmandu.
The Election Commission’s removal of a large number of voters’ names from the electoral rolls has heightened political tensions. Opposition parties have accused the commission of large-scale manipulation and alleged ‘vote theft,’ demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. In this context, the Indian National Congress and leaders of the ‘India’ alliance staged a large protest march on Monday from central New Delhi to the Supreme Court.
Under the Congress event titled ‘Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy,’ opposition leaders and activists gathered in large numbers on Monday afternoon at 1:30 PM at the Connaught Place-Barakhamba Road junction in Delhi. Top opposition figures including Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge participated in the march from Connaught Place–Barakhamba Road area toward Mandi House, Feroz Shah Road, and finally the Supreme Court.
The Kukroch Janata Party also expressed full support for the opposition march. Posting on the social media platform ‘X,’ Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stated that this march represents not just a single party, gender, caste, community, or state, but is the collective voice of Indian citizens. Gandhi called on young people, all opposition parties, civil society groups, and all democracy defenders who support India’s constitution to join this fight to save democracy.
The atmosphere grew tense after police intervened forcefully and began making arrests during the protest against Chief Election Commissioner at the Supreme Court. Large numbers of security personnel were deployed in the Barakhamba Road and Mandi House areas, with tight security around the Supreme Court. The opposition alliance leaders aimed to submit a memorandum to Chief Justice Surya Kant regarding allegations of ‘vote theft’ and irregularities in the voter list. However, Chief Justice Surya Kant refused to meet Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge on the grounds that the matter is currently under consideration in the Supreme Court. Despite this refusal, Gandhi made it clear that the march to submit the memorandum to the Chief Justice, along with a delegation representing civil society and youth, will continue through the Supreme Court premises.
