BB Desk
The INDIA bloc on Monday launched a major protest march towards the Supreme Court, bringing together senior Opposition leaders, Left parties, student activists, and civil society representatives to protest the alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and demand accountability from the Election Commission of India.
The march, led by Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, saw the participation of AISA president Neha Bora, activist Yogendra Yadav and Left leaders including M.A. Baby and Dipankar Bhattacharya. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Tejashwi Yadav, Supriya Sule and other Opposition leaders also joined the mobilisation.
The protest is largely centred around demands of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise has resulted in the exclusion of eligible voters. The Election Commission’s actions have become the focus of an intensifying political confrontation between the Opposition and the Centre.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Neha Bora walk together
The procession began with Opposition leaders and supporters assembling at the Constitution Club before moving through central Delhi towards the Supreme Court. As the march progressed along Barakhamba Road, large crowds gathered around the procession, with Congress workers, student organisations, and Left activists joining the demonstration.
Visuals from the march showed Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Neha Bora walking together after getting down from a bus carrying Opposition leaders. The participation of student organisations and Left leaders added a wider civil society dimension to the demonstration, which has developed alongside protests across Delhi over the Election Commission and the SIR exercise.
Neha Bora, the national president of AISA and Yogendra Yadav, political activist and former psephologist both have participated prominently in earlier demonstrations alongside advocate Prashant Bhushan and Left-affiliated student and political organisations. Their participation in Monday’s march comes after several days of protests and police detentions in the capital.
Demonstrations on October 10 and 11 saw activists, political leaders, young protestors, and lawyers detained at different locations as authorities tightened security ahead of planned gatherings. The latest march brings together parliamentary Opposition parties and grassroots movements around demands concerning electoral transparency, accountability, and the right to peaceful protest.
Petition submitted to Supreme Court; hearing expected Tuesday
A petition has been submitted to the Supreme Court by Rahul Gandhi’s lawyer Prasanna S., amid the continuing march. The legal move follows the Opposition’s stated intention to approach the Court over alleged electoral irregularities and the conduct of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant had earlier declined Rahul Gandhi’s request for a meeting, explaining on Monday that he had responded to the Congress leader’s letter the previous night and communicated his reasons for being unable to attend.
The Chief Justice indicated that the Court would be prepared to take up the matter on Tuesday if a petition was filed.
Heavy security and restrictions at the March
The march unfolded amid a substantial security deployment across central Delhi. Police barricades were installed along routes leading towards the Supreme Court, while movement around key areas was restricted.
The demonstration also coincided with the government’s decision to denotify Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site. The move drew criticism from Opposition leaders and activists, who questioned the restrictions on where large public demonstrations could be held.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the decision, saying that wherever people gather to stage a sit-in, it becomes Jantar Mantar. Authorities have designated Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in east Delhi as alternative protest locations.
The security measures follow a weekend of detentions involving Opposition figures, activists, and lawyers. The developments have intensified the debate over maintaining public order while protecting the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
Monday’s march represents a significant escalation in the Opposition’s campaign, bringing together national political leaders, Left organisations and activists such as Neha Bora and Yogendra Yadav. With a petition now filed, the attention will shift from the streets of Delhi to the Supreme Court now.
