NEW DELHI, Oct. 6
Opposition MPs led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi marched from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision exercise.
The march was stopped by police before the MPs could reach Nirvachan Sadan, prompting Gandhi and other Opposition leaders to stage a sit-in. Gandhi climbed onto a police barricade carrying the national flag as protesters raised slogans against the Chief Election Commissioner. He and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were subsequently detained and taken onto a police bus. NDTV
The protest marks the beginning of a broader campaign planned by the Congress and other INDIA bloc parties against Kumar and the Election Commission. The Opposition has accused the poll body of failing to adequately address its concerns over electoral rolls and has alleged irregularities in the SIR process. The Election Commission has disputed allegations questioning the integrity of its electoral processes.
Opposition MPs began their march from Parliament’s Makar Dwar carrying placards with slogans including “Save Democracy” and “Save My Vote”. Their destination was the Election Commission headquarters, where they planned to press their demand for Kumar’s resignation. NDTV
Samajwadi Party leaders joined the mobilisation, while two other major Opposition parties — the DMK and Aam Aadmi Party — stayed away from Tuesday’s march. Both parties have worked with the Opposition in Parliament but did not participate in the demonstration. NDTV
The Congress has prepared a longer protest programme intended to continue through the Winter Session of Parliament.
Between October 10 and 20, the party plans to organise a “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao” campaign at the block level, including bicycle and motorcycle rallies, distribution of campaign material and protests targeting Kumar.
That will be followed by booth-level public meetings between October 25 and November 25, with senior Congress leaders expected to participate.
A larger rally is planned at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1.
The party also plans six marches from areas surrounding Delhi on November 25 and 26. The marches are expected to converge in the capital on November 26, Constitution Day, shortly before the Winter Session of Parliament. NDTV
The Congress intends to pursue its demand for Kumar’s removal in Parliament as well, according to the report.
Removing a Chief Election Commissioner, however, requires a much higher constitutional threshold than an ordinary parliamentary motion. Article 324(5) of the Constitution provides the CEC protections comparable to those of a Supreme Court judge, meaning removal requires a special parliamentary process rather than a simple demand for resignation.
The political confrontation is unfolding alongside judicial scrutiny of the Election Commission.
The Supreme Court is hearing a petition concerning allegations that Kumar took decisions without the concurrence of the other two Election Commissioners.
The court has sought responses from the Election Commission and Kumar but declined to take immediate action based solely on newspaper reports about alleged internal disagreements.
The Bench said it would need official material before reaching conclusions. It also observed that if decisions requiring collective approval were eventually shown not to have been taken unanimously or by a majority, they could potentially be stayed. NDTV
The judicial proceedings and the Opposition’s political campaign are separate processes. The Supreme Court has not made a finding establishing wrongdoing by Kumar, while the Opposition’s allegations remain politically contested.
The BJP, meanwhile, has rejected the Opposition’s campaign against the Election Commission. Party leaders have questioned the basis for demanding Kumar’s resignation and have said the allegations will be countered with facts. NDTV
Tuesday’s demonstration nevertheless represents a significant escalation of the Opposition’s campaign.
Until now, criticism of the Election Commission had largely centred on statements, parliamentary interventions and challenges surrounding electoral-roll revisions. The march towards Nirvachan Sadan takes that dispute onto the streets, with the Congress planning to maintain pressure through a series of rallies and public meetings over the coming weeks.
The absence of the DMK and AAP from Tuesday’s march also points to differences within the broader Opposition camp over participation in the campaign, even as Congress and the Samajwadi Party push ahead with the mobilisation.
For the moment, the dispute is proceeding on two parallel tracks: a political campaign demanding Kumar’s resignation and judicial proceedings examining specific allegations concerning the Election Commission’s decision-making.
The Supreme Court has indicated that it will wait for the Election Commission’s response before considering further action. The Opposition, however, has chosen not to wait for that process, beginning a campaign that it intends to carry into the Winter Session of Parliament.
