The INDIA bloc has vowed to intensify its campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following a high tea meeting at Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s residence, while opposition parties and student organisations continue protests against alleged electoral irregularities and the removal of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site.
At a press conference after the meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the “entire nation is with us today”. Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of leading alleged attacks on democratic institutions, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah implementing them, and said the Opposition would not remain silent over what it sees as threats to the Constitution.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule said the INDIA bloc would fight together, while senior advocate Prashant Bhushan said farmers’ organisations and trade unions would join the campaign.
AISA leader Neha Bora also accused the BJP of attacking democracy and the Constitution, saying people would not remain silent.
Police seek extended deployment amid protests
Delhi Police has asked the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to extend the deployment of 273 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the national capital until October 20, citing the possibility of protests by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and other organisations.
The deployment was scheduled to end on Monday. A total of 301 CAPF companies had been approved for Delhi, including 221 cleared on October 6 and another 80 on October 8. Of the additional 80 companies, 28 had not reported to Delhi Police as of Monday, sources said.
The protests, led by CJP and opposition groups, have been taking place since October 10 over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
The Delhi High Court is set to hear a plea challenging the government’s decision to de-notify Jantar Mantar as a protest venue. Another petition alleging an attack on protesters by hooligans is also listed for consideration.
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CJP activists detained at Jantar Mantar
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka began a protest at Jantar Mantar by waving the Indian flag at police officers. CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das and national spokesperson Ranka were detained after activists entered the barricaded site, with the party insisting it remained a legitimate venue for democratic protest.
In a video recorded inside a police bus, Das questioned the Home Ministry’s authority to withdraw the site’s status and vowed to continue the campaign for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Delhi Police registered an FIR against Das, Ranka and other CJP members for allegedly entering the site without authorisation. A police source said the FIR also cited an alleged breach of a peace bond signed by three leaders after their release from detention on Sunday. The CJP said around 11 members were detained on Tuesday, while its lawyer Ratna Singh said 14 people had been detained.
Singh alleged that the station house officer at Jaffarpur Kalan did not allow her to meet the detainees. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also alleged that lawyers were being denied access to detained members, describing the situation as akin to 'kidnapping'.
Meanwhile, Dipke said protests would continue across the country until Gyanesh Kumar resigns. He urged people not to be distracted by conspiracy theories suggesting that CJP was planted by the BJP, warning that suspicion could divide groups campaigning against the CEC.
Criticising the de-notification of Jantar Mantar, Dipke accused Modi of being opposed to protest and said demonstrations would spread across Delhi and the country.
Political parties and student groups join protests
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] vowed to resist the removal of Jantar Mantar’s protest-site status. General secretary M A Baby criticised the decision, while Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas alleged it violated a Supreme Court order. The party rejected alternative venues such as Ramlila Maidan and Burari Ground, saying they lacked Jantar Mantar’s visibility, accessibility and proximity to political power.
Lawyers and students staged separate demonstrations in Nagpur on Monday against the detentions in Delhi. The All India Students’ Association (AISA) and Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA) protested at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Tuesday. Student and youth organisations also held demonstrations in New Delhi, while the Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) staged a flash protest at Gate 7 of Rajiv Chowk metro station. Police detained several protesters.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) condemned the de-notification and vowed to mobilise students, youth and other groups to reclaim the site.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party’s Delhi chief, Saurabh Bharadwaj, announced a mass protest on October 15 demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Bharadwaj said the party would protest peacefully and could use Ramlila Maidan if permission to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar was denied.
Delhi Police has also registered multiple FIRs at Barakhamba Road and Tilak Marg police stations over alleged barricade-breaking and graffiti during Monday’s opposition protest.
The police’s Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations unit has registered more than four FIRs against social media handles allegedly spreading false narratives. Sources said around 500 posts had been taken down. Several Pakistani social media accounts were also identified as allegedly circulating false reports of deaths during protests on October 10 and misleading videos while posing as Indian users.
BJP and Congress trade allegations
Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi criticised the INDIA bloc’s Supreme Court petition, alleging it contained 14 basic mistakes, that the fees had not been fully paid and that Kharge’s identity document was blurry.
Congress MP Pawan Khera alleged that the government was 'bullying and blackmailing' two Election Commissioners to force them to hold a joint press conference with Gyanesh Kumar.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal accused Congress of double standards on SIR, citing earlier remarks by Shashi Tharoor, Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and Chief Minister V D Satheesan. He said the Opposition criticised the electoral process when it lost elections.
Meanwhile, for the first time, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has responded to the SIR row and rejected opposition claims linking BJP victories to SIR and cited results in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, saying Congress had failed to win a seat in the three states. He also pointed to the BJP’s performance in Gujarat local body elections, including its victory in 38 of 44 Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation seats.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh accused Shah of making predictions about the 2029 Lok Sabha elections while allegations of 'vote chori' remained under scrutiny. Ramesh said Shah should prepare to face investigations if the government lost power. Congress MP KC Venugopal also criticised Shah’s remarks about 2029, accused him of undermining the electoral system and questioned his decision to address the media without taking questions.
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Rahul Gandhi faces allegations over march
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar denied claims that Rahul Gandhi pushed him during the Opposition’s October 12 march to the Supreme Court, accusing the BJP of spreading misinformation. Shivakumar said Gandhi had expressed concern for him amid the crowd and suggested he take a vehicle following behind. Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said Shivakumar was slightly pushed as security personnel prioritised Gandhi’s protection.
Journalist Richa Parashar alleged that Gandhi and his security detail manhandled and shoved her during the march, leaving her physically injured and facing a medical emergency. Parashar is in her first trimester of pregnancy, according to the report.
-With inputs from ANI and PTI
(This story is compiled by Aiswarya Padmakumari)
