Ahead of the INDIA bloc’s planned march to the Supreme Court at 1:30 pm on Monday, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference, urging Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign and alleging that senior government figures had pressured him.
Ahead of the INDIA bloc’s planned march to the Supreme Court at 1:30 pm on Monday, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference, urging Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign and alleging that senior government figures had pressured him.
Addressing a press conference, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said to CEC Gyanesh Kumar, “You have done a crime, and you are not the main criminal. You made a mistake, and you are not the mind behind the mistake. We are after the people who are behind what you did. It is very easy for you to resign and get out of the way... We know that you have been forced by the Prime Minister, Amit Shah, and Ajit Doval...”
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Rahul Gandhi said Kumar had committed a “crime” but was “not the main criminal” or the person behind the alleged wrongdoing. He urged Kumar to resign, saying it would be easy for him to step aside.
Gandhi linked his demand to allegations of “vote chori” and alleged wrongdoing involving the Election Commission. He also said senior government figures had pressured Kumar.
At his press conference, Gandhi said Kumar had been forced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Ajit Doval. These were Gandhi’s allegations.
The INDIA bloc planned a march to the Supreme Court at 1:30 pm on Monday. Opposition leaders had also sought a meeting with the Chief Justice to raise their concerns about alleged “vote chori.”
Athawale said Kumar did not need to resign over the “vote chori” allegations. He criticised demands for officials’ resignations and argued that the Election Commission works independently and transparently.
He further warned that the protest over CEC Gyanesh Kumar's conduct would continue. Gandhi added, "Why is all this happening? Because we are only asking the question raised by two Election Commissioners: why is Gyanesh Kumar not resigning? These days, we are receiving information from everywhere."
Addressing the CEC directly, Gandhi said, "Gyanesh Kumar, we know your situation. We know you are unable to sleep at night, and do not worry; we will not spare you. I am telling you directly that you will not escape as Election Commissioner because of what is happening. Lakhs of people are questioning you and your conduct, and they will not stop.”
INDIA bloc to march to Supreme Court, file petition against alleged ‘vote theft’
In a social media post, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said they wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, who directed them to file a petition. He added that leaders of the INDIA bloc will march to the apex court today to file this petition against 'vote theft.' Gandhi also called citizens to show support and join the march as the alliance plans to file the petition against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and the allegations levelled against Gyanesh Kumar. Gandhi further said, "In this fight to protect democracy and the Constitution, fellow citizens, let us march step by step with us. Reach Connaught Place and become part of this march. If you can't come, raise your voice from wherever you are!"
Key demands in Rahul Gandhi’s proposed Supreme Court petition
On 11 October, ahead of the planned march, Gandhi announced that they will submit a memorandum to the CJI on behalf of the country. According to media reports, the Congress MP is demanding:
1. an end to vote chori
2. halting of SIR
3. resignation of Gyanesh Kumar
Why is INDIA bloc protesting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
The INDIA bloc is protesting against alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls and demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. In September, a report in The Indian Express pointed to an internal rift within the poll panel, with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raising objections to the SIR exercise.
The INDIA bloc’s march comes two days after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical outfit, launched a protest on 10 October seeking Kumar’s resignation. However, before most of the CJP leaders could reach the protest site at Jantar Mantar, founder Abhijeet Dipke, co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee were detained, along with over 1,500 protesters in the capital.
(with agency inputs)
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Swati Gandhi
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.