ع
The march by Indian opposition leaders to the top court unfolded amid tight security measures that included the closure of multiple Delhi Metro stations and extensive road barricades. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, led the procession alongside figures such as Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, all of whom have thrown their weight behind the call for accountability. According to The Indian Express, the delegation planned to file a petition seeking intervention on what they term systemic electoral malpractice. The event represented the latest escalation in a campaign that has seen opposition parties mobilise supporters across the country.
Opposition parties have zeroed in on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which they claim has resulted in the deletion of more than 130 million names, a scale that Reuters said analysts consider unprecedented. Gandhi has urged Kumar to “resign, turn approver” arguing that the commissioner was not the mastermind but had erred gravely in allowing interference. The Hindu reported that the Congress Working Committee had earlier demanded not only Kumar’s ouster but also the immediate restoration of all deleted voters and a halt to the revision process. Party leaders have also pushed for a return to paper ballots, citing concerns over the reliability of electronic voting machines in the current climate.
Chief Justice Surya Kant rejected a direct meeting with the opposition leaders, citing that several related matters were already sub judice before the Supreme Court. In his response conveyed through sources, the Chief Justice reaffirmed that the court’s doors remain open for formal petitions regarding fundamental rights violations. The INDIA bloc accordingly proceeded to submit their memorandum through official legal channels at the court. This development came after the Chief Justice had received a formal letter from Gandhi and Kharge requesting the audience.
The tensions trace back to reports that Kumar’s fellow commissioners had formally objected 14 times in the preceding 10 months to changes in voter registration procedures and the digital systems used for roll maintenance. Kumar assumed office in February 2025 and has faced mounting criticism, including an impeachment motion in Parliament earlier this year. A Reuters dispatch highlighted how even international observers had noted Kumar’s emphasis on stringent voter identification, which drew praise from US President Donald Trump. The opposition maintains that these internal objections validate their long-standing claims of irregularities.
Wider demonstrations, including those organised by the youth-oriented Cockroach Janata Party, have persisted for more than a week, prompting police action that included detentions and the use of tear gas in some locations. The opposition has framed the campaign as a defence of constitutional democracy, calling for a reversion to paper ballots and full transparency in all future roll revisions. Government officials and the Election Commission have consistently dismissed the claims as baseless, insisting that the revision process adheres strictly to legal standards. Additional protests are anticipated in the coming days as the legal petition advances through the court system.
