Congress Challenges Election Commission Integrity

On October 12, 2026, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed at a press conference in New Delhi that approximately 200 government officials from departments including the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation, and Ministry of External Affairs were passing internal information to the Opposition.

Rahul Gandhi publicly urged Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign and turn approver in connection with alleged electoral irregularities surrounding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Before the INDIA bloc staged a march from Barakhamba Road to the Supreme Court to file a formal petition, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined a meeting request from opposition leaders, citing judicial propriety and pending court matters.

The opposition's campaign follows reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected on record at least 14 times over a 10-month period to decisions concerning electoral roll revisions.

On October 12, 2026, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of creating lakhs of fake and duplicate votes in Uttar Pradesh during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Yadav cited specific duplicate entries in voter rolls, claiming a single voter in the Azamgarh assembly constituency appeared 10 times, while Adityavardhan Srivastava appeared twice in Gorakhpur and Nagma Rabbani appeared six times.

The opposition INDIA bloc launched a massive protest march in New Delhi on October 12, 2026, targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.

On October 12, 2026, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that recent protests in Delhi and security restrictions are a law-and-order issue outside his domain, speaking on the sidelines of the National Human Rights Commission anniversary at Vigyan Bhawan.

The Chief Justice declined a meeting request from Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, who sought to submit a memorandum demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a return to paper ballots.

In a two-page confidentiality response, the CJI explained that discussing pending cases would violate the separation of powers and judicial propriety, advising the leaders to file a formal petition under Article 32.

Recent demonstrations against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls led to the deployment of over 20,000 security personnel, the closure of 45 metro stations, and the detention of thousands, including four former chief ministers and Cockroach Janta Party leaders.

On October 12, 2026, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of shielding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged vote theft and controversies surrounding the Special Intensive Review of electoral rolls.

Ahead of an INDIA bloc march to the Supreme Court, Gandhi claimed that between 20,000 and 30,000 security personnel were deployed and transport into Delhi was blocked, turning the capital city into a fortress.

Gandhi stated that opposition leaders and the Congress president previously wrote to the Chief Justice of India regarding election fairness and were instructed to file a formal petition.

Authorities implemented heavy security across Central Delhi on October 12, installing barricades, deploying Rapid Action Force and Central Reserve Police Force units, and closing select metro station exits until 4:00 PM.

On October 12, 2026, the Supreme Court clarified that it has neither approved nor disapproved the newly modified Form 6 voter registration application and is yet to adjudicate on its validity.

The controversy emerged after the Election Commission of India issued a September 26 press release suggesting the Supreme Court had upheld the new Form 6 in its May 2026 Bihar Special Intensive Revision judgment.

Justice Joymalya Bagchi explained that the Supreme Court could not have examined the revised form during the Bihar case because the changes were introduced in July, after the May ruling.

The revised online Form 6 requires new applicants to state whether they, their parents, or grandparents were mapped in previous Special Intensive Revision electoral rolls.

A writ petition filed by Priya Mishra and former Madhya Pradesh Law Minister PC Sharma challenges Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over 14 alleged unilateral decisions made without consulting other Election Commissioners.

On October 12, 2026, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and other leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc participated in a protest march in New Delhi heading toward the Supreme Court.

The protest was organized to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Ahead of the march, Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi called for the demonstration via a post on X under the banner 'Chalo Dilli'.

CM Sukhu alleged that the government attempted to suppress the opposition by shutting down railway stations and suspending internet services.

The march proceeded despite the Chief Justice of India declining to grant an appointment for a meeting with the opposition MPs on the issue.

On October 12, 2026, the Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a resolution moved by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The resolution alleges that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls wrongfully excluded crores of eligible voters across the country, disproportionately impacting marginalised communities, minorities, migrant workers, and young voters.

Lawmakers called for the restructuring of the election commissioner selection panel to include the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India.

The ruling United Democratic Front and the opposition Left Democratic Front supported the resolution, while Bharatiya Janata Party members objected and proposed amendments that were rejected.

On October 11, 2026, actor Ranvir Shorey posted on X criticizing the Cockroach Janta Party for street protests, stating that democratic disputes should be handled in Parliament, ballots, or courts rather than holding public infrastructure to ransom.

The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party intensified its agitation demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which the group alleges disenfranchised millions of voters.

On October 10, 2026, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and leaders Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained in Delhi before a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar, but were released on October 11 under a condition to maintain public peace for one year.

The Supreme Court of India held a special hearing on Sunday, October 11, 2026, stating that protesters would no longer be detained and ordering public transport services to return to normal.

The Election Commission and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have denied all allegations of voter list manipulation, while the CJP has demanded electoral reforms and an independent inquiry.

On October 12, 2026, opposition parties organized a march from Connaught Place to the Supreme Court in New Delhi to protest alleged electoral roll irregularities during the Special Intensive Revision.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation shut entry and exit at six stations—including Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, and Patel Chowk—from 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM on October 12 due to security concerns.

The Delhi Traffic Police issued advisories warning of restrictions, barricades, and diversions across roughly 30 key locations throughout central New Delhi starting at 6:00 AM on Monday.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined a meeting with opposition leaders seeking to submit a representation, directing them to file a formal legal petition since the matter is sub judice.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor stated that 130 million individuals have been removed from voter rolls, while the opposition demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

On October 11, 2026, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined a meeting request from Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi and Rajya Sabha Opposition Leader Mallikarjun Kharge concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

In an official email response, the Chief Justice stated that such a meeting would be inappropriate because the issues are already sub judice before the Supreme Court on its judicial side.

The opposition leaders had planned to present a memorandum on October 12 demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a rollback of the electoral roll revision.

The Supreme Court advised the leaders to formally file a petition on the judicial side, noting that related matters are already listed for hearing before the court.

On October 11, 2026, Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi released a video inviting citizens, youth, and civil society groups to join a march to the Supreme Court on Monday, October 12.

The opposition parties plan to submit a formal memorandum to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant demanding an end to alleged vote tampering, the halt of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that opposition leaders formally sought an appointment with the Chief Justice between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to apprise him of their grievances.

Gandhi criticized the heavy deployment of security personnel and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other leaders of creating an atmosphere of fear and chaos following a peaceful youth protest in Delhi on Saturday.

On October 11, 2026, All India Congress Committee General Secretary K.C. Venugopal labeled Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar a criminal and vowed that Opposition parties would continue their second freedom struggle agitations until Kumar is removed from office.

Venugopal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of subverting democratic institutions through electronic voting machines, the Special Intensive Revision process, and an allegedly compromised electoral machinery following a controversy over the ruling party symbol appearing on Election Commission letterheads.

The opposition INDIA bloc met with President Droupadi Murmu to voice electoral concerns and planned a meeting with the Chief Justice of India after authorities closed metro stations and deployed extensive paramilitary forces to suppress protests in New Delhi.

Venugopal criticized the central government for failing to fulfill a 2015 parliamentary assurance to establish an All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Kerala, vowing that an INDIA bloc government would approve the premier medical facility within two years.

On October 11, 2026, Goa Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao announced that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will participate in the Goy Rakhon Yatra in South Goa’s Cuncolim constituency on Sunday, despite the state administration rejecting permission for the event.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar stated that Gandhi advanced his visit after initially rescheduling it due to SIR protests in Delhi, and local leaders confirmed the march will proceed even without formal approval.

Simultaneously, sources in New Delhi reported on October 11, 2026, that Gandhi is likely to postpone his Goa trip to remain in the capital for coordinated opposition demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral flaws.

On October 10, 2026, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal announced a major protest march in New Delhi on October 12 led by the INDIA opposition bloc against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

A delegation of senior opposition leaders plans to submit a formal memorandum to Chief Justice Surya Kant seeking judicial intervention regarding the alleged vote manipulation.

The opposition campaign intensified following an investigative report revealing that election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections at least 14 times over the prior 10 months.

Delhi Police detained approximately 1,000 demonstrators across the capital who attempted to march toward Jantar Mantar to demand the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation.

On October 10, 2026, Delhi Police detained Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal outside his residence as he attempted to march to Jantar Mantar to join a demonstration.

The protest, organized by the Cockroach Janata Party, demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of electoral vote theft.

Ahead of the demonstration, authorities deployed 23,000 security personnel and closed 45 Delhi Metro stations from 9 p.m. on Friday to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Arvind Kejriwal condemned the heavy security measures as worse than the historical Emergency, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of dictatorship and fear.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram stated that the opposition INDIA bloc plans to take calibrated steps to hold the Election Commission accountable regarding electoral discrepancies.

On October 10, 2026, opposition leaders rallied behind a Cockroach Janata Party protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi targeting the Election Commission of India and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Congress leader Husain Dalwai alleged that irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision process have deprived 13 crore people of their right to participate in elections.

Telangana Jana Samithi chief M. Kodandaram criticized authorities for deploying heavy security forces and suspending internet services to prevent demonstrators from reaching the Jantar Mantar area.

Uttar Pradesh State Congress President Aradhana Mishra Mona defended the demonstration, stating that the Constitution guarantees every political party and organization the right to protest peacefully.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma claimed participants from across North, South, East, and West India wanted to join the call due to widespread convictions that electoral malpractice occurred.

On October 9, 2026, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and including Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana criticized New Delhi's sweeping security restrictions, stating that metro and train services cannot be completely halted.

Ahead of an October 10 protest and a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu, opposition INDIA bloc leaders accused the government of imposing an undeclared emergency through widespread train cancellations and station closures.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge stated that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's actions regarding alleged electoral irregularities and electronic voting machines have endangered democracy, prompting opposition leaders to seek presidential intervention.

Kharge claimed that other election commissioners previously sent 10 to 15 letters flagging these alleged mistakes without receiving any corrective responses from authorities.

Congress parliamentarian KC Venugopal confirmed that opposition agitation and protests will continue while lawmakers determine their next steps.

On October 9, 2026, a 10-member INDIA bloc delegation met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan to submit a four-point memorandum alleging electoral fraud and a conspiracy to subvert democracy.

Opposition leaders demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the repeal of a 2023 law granting life-long immunity to election commissioners, and the immediate suspension of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

The memorandum called for the restoration of 13.3 crore voters allegedly deleted from electoral rolls, a return to paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines, and the annulment of assembly elections held over the past two years.

President Murmu did not deny the allegations during the one-hour meeting but requested that the opposition delegation provide formal evidence to substantiate claims of vote theft.

Following the meeting, opposition leaders announced plans to approach Chief Justice Surya Kant on Monday with a similar memorandum.

On October 7, 2026, senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot criticized the detention of roughly 200 to 250 Opposition Members of Parliament during demonstrations in Delhi demanding accountability from the Election Commission.

Pilot slammed Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for refusing to meet Opposition leaders—including Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra—who attempted to present concerns regarding electoral roll revisions.

Pilot coined the term "Votebandi" to describe the electoral roll revision exercise, alleging that millions of voters are at risk of disenfranchisement and comparing the situation to demonetisation.

Addressing municipal elections in Rajasthan, Pilot claimed Congress won despite losing actual seats because the party secured a higher overall vote share while facing administrative interference and irregularities.

On October 8, 2026, INDIA bloc opposition members led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge headed to Gandhi Smarak in Delhi for a peaceful sit-in protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The demonstration marks the third consecutive day of protests following a march to Nirvachan Sadan and a demonstration near Jantar Mantar.

Opposition leaders alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, CEC Gyanesh Kumar, and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat of a criminal conspiracy.

Approximately 300 members of parliament participated in the protests after attending a lunch meeting hosted by Mallikarjun Kharge, featuring figures such as Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Manoj Jha, Abhishek Banerjee, and John Brittas.

On October 8, 2026, the Union government deployed additional Central Industrial Security Force reserve personnel to strengthen the existing Z+ security cover for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The security enhancement around his New Moti Bagh Colony residence and the Election Commission headquarters in Delhi follows intense protests led by INDIA bloc opposition parties demanding his resignation.

Opposition leaders, including Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were detained during marches toward the Election Commission office over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Authorities are mobilizing a massive deployment of Central Reserve Police Force companies brought in from Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh to manage an upcoming October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar.

On October 8, 2026, police detained several senior Telangana Congress ministers, including Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar, and D. Sridhar Babu, during a 'Chalo Lok Bhavan' march in Hyderabad.

The protest was part of the INDIA bloc's 'Save Democracy' campaign, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Telangana Congress President Mahesh Kumar Goud alleged that attempts are being made to delete 93 million voters out of 35 million total voters in Telangana through a process targeting the state.

Demonstrators gathered at the Indira Gandhi statue near Necklace Road and marched toward Lok Bhavan before being stopped by police barricades at Khairatabad and shifted to the Panjagutta Police Station.

On October 8, 2026, the Congress-led INDIA bloc enforced a 12-hour statewide bandh across Odisha, halting passenger buses, auto-rickshaws, and trucks while stranding motorists on National and State Highways.

Protesters blocked traffic by burning tyres and picketing at major junctions in cities including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Balasore, Rayagada, Kendrapara, Bolangir, Berhampur, and Sambalpur.

The opposition demanded the complete rollback of the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral revision irregularities, and the removal of State School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over textbook errors.

Essential services such as hospitals, ambulances, fire services, medicine shops, milk supply, and students appearing for examinations were officially exempted from the shutdown.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das warned that the agitation would be intensified and expanded over the next two months if the government fails to address the four key demands.

On October 7 and October 8, 2026, Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Nabin accused Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi of having an "anarchist mindset" and attempting to spread poison and anarchy in Delhi.

The political confrontation erupted after Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders from the INDIA bloc led street protests and were detained by police in Delhi while demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Nitin Nabin challenged Rahul Gandhi to resign, pointing out that the same Election Commission of India conducted elections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where opposition parties successfully came to power.

The protests were sparked by opposition concerns over the Special Intensive Revision process of electoral rolls and reports that two election commissioners objected on record at least 14 times over 10 months.

On October 8, 2026, the INDIA bloc and Odisha Congress enforced a 12-hour statewide bandh from 6 AM to 6 PM, leading to transport disruptions and closures across cities like Koraput and Sambalpur.

Protesters demanded the withdrawal of the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act, the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and the ouster of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over textbook errors.

The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate deployed approximately 150 officers to maintain law and order, securing national highways and railway lines while exempting essential services like hospitals and ambulances.

Nine non-BJP political parties backed the shutdown, including the Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), Nationalist Congress Party, Forward Bloc, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

Ahead of the shutdown, Congress organizers held torch rallies and protest marches spanning from AG Square through Vani Vihar and Master Canteen in Bhubaneswar.

On October 7, 2026, Delhi Police reiterated that protests at Jantar Mantar require applications to be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Police at least 10 days in advance.

Police guidelines restrict gatherings at Jantar Mantar to a maximum of 1,000 people, requiring protests of 1,000 to 50,000 people to move to Ramlila Maidan and larger crowds to Burari.

Demonstrations are strictly prohibited across the entire Central Vista area, including India Gate, Janpath, and Rajpath lawns.

The security clampdown followed a march by INDIA bloc lawmakers demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll irregularities.

Delhi Police filed a First Information Report against opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, after they entered Akashvani Bhavan without permission during a protest.

On October 7, 2026, Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders were detained by Delhi Police and taken to Barakhamba police station after being blocked from marching to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

The protests were organized to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Rahul Gandhi stated he has 45 existing police cases and aims to accumulate 100 First Information Reports, describing each legal filing as a medal.

The Supreme Court of India agreed on October 5, 2026, to hear arguments concerning petitions alleging bias by the Election Commission over its voter-registration exercise.

Delhi Police registered an initial police report against opposition leaders following an unauthorized entry into the Akashvani Bhavan premises during demonstrations on October 6, 2026.

On October 7, 2026, leaders from INDIA bloc parties marched to the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer's office at Kashmere Gate to demand the immediate cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Opposition parties reported that more than 47 lakh names were excluded from the draft voter list, while notices were issued to over 33 lakh individuals requiring them to prove their eligibility.

The coalition demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the withdrawal of all verification notices, and a return to traditional paper ballots to restore public confidence.

During the demonstrations at Jantar Mantar following the meeting, Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav and participating party workers were detained by police.

Thirty-three leaders representing 19 political parties attended the planning meetings, though the Aam Aadmi Party officially stayed out of the coalition to organize separate protests on the same issue.

On October 7, 2026, opposition leaders of the INDIA bloc moved toward the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to continue their agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The Delhi Police registered a First Information Report against Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other MPs for forcibly entering the Akashvani Bhavan premises during a protest on October 6, 2026.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that opposition parties would continue their sit-in protests and struggle until their demands regarding the Election Commission are met, regardless of criminal cases filed against them.

Rahul Gandhi dismissed the police charges by stating he currently has 45 First Information Reports against him and aims to reach 100, viewing each case as a medal.

On October 7, 2026, Delhi Police registered First Information Reports against Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra following an opposition protest march.

The police action stemmed from allegations that the Gandhi siblings and other INDIA bloc members entered the Akashvani Bhavan premises without authorization during a demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Congress leader K.C. Venugopal dismissed the legal filings, stating that the party was unbothered by thousands of potential FIRs and remained focused on protecting democracy.

Following the march, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hosted a meeting of INDIA bloc members at a central Delhi restaurant to draft a letter demanding an urgent meeting with election commissioners.

On October 7, 2026, opposition leaders including Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge boarded buses to march toward Jantar Mantar in New Delhi after police blocked protests near election offices.

Rahul Gandhi stated that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is illegitimate and demanded his resignation while welcoming police action by declaring he wanted 100 First Information Reports filed against him as medals.

The protests erupted over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and voter list discrepancies.

Trinamool Congress member of parliament Derek O'Brien confirmed that opposition parties remain united under the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge to continue the campaign against the election commission.

Simultaneously, Aam Aadmi Party leaders and workers marched from Kashmere Gate toward the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer's office on October 7, 2026, before being stopped by police barricades over alleged vote theft.

On October 7, 2026, the Madhya Pradesh unit of the Congress party staged a protest outside the Election Commission office in Bhopal to condemn the detention of Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in New Delhi.

During the Bhopal demonstration, state Congress president Jitu Patwari announced plans to burn effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in every district across the state.

Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders were detained by Delhi Police near Akashvani Bhawan after being stopped during a march to the Nirvachan Sadan to raise allegations of voter irregularities.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh accused the Election Commission of functioning as an arm of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and held Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar responsible for alleged electoral roll discrepancies.

On October 6, 2026, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy labeled the detention of Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, MP Priyanka Gandhi, and other INDIA bloc parliamentarians as proof of government hubris.

CM Reddy compared the current actions of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to colonial rule, dubbing them the 'British Janata Party' and referencing historic British arrests of figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

The arrests occurred during heightened opposition protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral and voter list irregularities.

The Bharatiya Janata Party and the federal government rejected the opposition allegations, maintaining that all electoral processes are conducted strictly in accordance with the law.

On October 7, 2026, at 1 p.m., the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and Left parties planned a joint protest march to the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer's office at Kashmere Gate over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

On October 5, 2026, around 300 opposition MPs attempted to march to the Election Commission of India headquarters in New Delhi to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, but were blocked by security personnel.

During Tuesday's demonstration, Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi climbed police barricades to wave the national flag, and both he and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were briefly detained after staging a sit-in at Akashvani Bhavan.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the opposition's demonstrations as "drama," urging opposition parties to abandon the protests and focus on public service instead.

On October 6, 2026, the Election Commission of India rejected a meeting request from a 240-member opposition delegation led by Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi because the group demanded the gathering take place at the Parliament House Annexe rather than official commission premises.

Opposition leaders from the INDIA bloc marched from Parliament toward the poll panel headquarters to demand Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged electoral roll irregularities during the Special Intensive Revision exercise.

Delhi Police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav, Abhishek Banerjee, and other opposition lawmakers after stopping their protest march near the Niti Aayog office and Akashvani Bhavan.

The election body stated that no formal appointment request had been lodged by any political party through authorized channels before 4 p.m., and its counter-offer to send its senior-most officer to receive the memorandum was declined by the protesting MPs.

On October 6, 2026, Delhi Police detained approximately 260 individuals, including 10 Members of Parliament, during an unauthorized protest march organized by the opposition INDIA bloc from Parliament House toward the Election Commission of India headquarters.

Protesters breached initial barricades near the NITI Aayog office and defied prohibitory orders enacted under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita before police halted the advance.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with party General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, were among those taken into custody after entering the Akashvani Bhawan premises without permission to stage a sit-in.

The demonstration was part of the opposition's 'Save Democracy' campaign, staged to protest alleged discrepancies in electoral roll revisions and demand greater transparency from the poll panel.

On October 6, 2026, the Press Information Bureau Fact Check unit declared as misleading social media claims that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs reached out to Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to end an ongoing protest.

Rahul Gandhi led approximately 300 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha opposition lawmakers in a march from Parliament toward Nirvachan Sadan, the headquarters of the Election Commission of India.

Security personnel stopped the lawmakers ~50 yards from the Election Commission office, preventing them from meeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Following the blockade, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other opposition leaders staged a sit-in protest (dharna) inside Akashvani Bhavan near the election office.

Delhi Police detained multiple Youth Congress and National Students' Union of India members outside Akashvani Bhavan during the demonstration.

On October 6, 2026, members of Parliament from the Biju Janata Dal joined an INDIA bloc protest march in New Delhi from Makar Dwar to Nirvachan Sadan to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The protest targeted the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which opponents claim led to the unauthorized deletion of more than 13 crore voters nationwide and over 27.50 lakh voters in Odisha.

Biju Janata Dal leaders cited the specific exclusion of 227 minority community votes in Dhamnagar without Booth Level Officer knowledge, alongside the state Chief Electoral Officer's voluntary retirement application, as key reasons for joining the march.

Despite participating alongside opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, Biju Janata Dal maintained it is not part of the opposition alliance and continues its policy of equidistance from both major coalitions.

Protesters and party officials pointed to a Supreme Court clarification stating the court never directed any modification of Form 6, contradicting earlier claims made by the Chief Election Commissioner.

On October 6, 2026, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi led a protest march in New Delhi where approximately 300 members of parliament from both houses were blocked by police from meeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Gandhi stated that the opposition would not merely counter its rivals but would destroy them, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and the Chief Election Commissioner of treason and vote theft.

Demonstrators and Congress cadres attempted to breach the gates of the Election Commission office at Nirvachan Sadan, leading to physical scuffles with security personnel and subsequent police detentions under Section 163 prohibitions.

Following the blocked entry, senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra staged a sit-in demonstration inside the nearby Akashvani complex, demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.

On October 6, 2026, Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and other lawmakers staged a march from Parliament to the Election Commission of India headquarters in New Delhi, resulting in their brief detention by police.

Protesters demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, displaying placards reading "Gyanesh, it's done, bro" and alleging that 130 million voter names had been improperly deleted during a Special Intensive Revision exercise.

During the protest, Rahul Gandhi climbed onto police barricades near the NITI Aayog office and waved the Indian national flag while supporters chanted slogans.

The Election Commission of India rejected allegations of wrongdoing, maintaining that the electoral roll revision process was conducted according to proper procedures to ensure accuracy.

The Supreme Court announced it would examine the poll body's records and hear arguments regarding whether unauthorized changes were made to voter registration forms.

On October 6, 2026, hundreds of security personnel deployed in central New Delhi with barricades and road closures as opposition lawmakers and members of the 'cockroach' youth movement began a march from parliament to the Election Commission headquarters.

Protesters demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following a report in the Indian Express alleging internal divisions within the poll body over voter registration procedures.

Opposition parties, led by the Congress party, allege that the controversial revision of voter lists is designed to favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party.

India's Supreme Court agreed on October 5, 2026, to hear legal petitions seeking court intervention into allegations of bias and illegal conduct by the election commission regarding the voter drive.

The demonstrations follow the recent resignation of Modi's education minister over exam leaks, marking a mounting political challenge midway through Modi's third term.

On October 5, 2026, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal announced the nationwide 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' campaign beginning October 10 to protest alleged vote theft and demand the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Congress plans to mobilize party workers designated as 'Vote Rakshaks' to reach out to 13.3 million voters whose names were struck off during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and assist with re-enrollment.

The Supreme Court stated on October 5, 2026, that it had not approved any modified version of Form 6 used for voter registration and issued notices to the Centre and the Election Commission.

The multi-phase agitation includes block-level marches from October 10 to 20, village-level chaupals, a mega rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on November 1, and six 'Chalo Delhi' marches on November 25 and 26.

On October 6, 2026, opposition INDIA bloc MPs staged a protest march from Parliament to the Election Commission of India headquarters in New Delhi to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the poll panel operates in favor of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and fails to function in accordance with the Constitution.

The protests follow an investigation revealing that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections on at least 14 occasions regarding Special Intensive Revision decisions.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated during a hearing that the Supreme Court had not approved modifications made to Form 6, adding momentum to opposition scrutiny.

On October 6, 2026, opposition MPs of the INDIA bloc staged a protest march from Parliament to Nirvachan Sadan, the Election Commission of India headquarters in New Delhi, to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The protest follows the Supreme Court's statement on October 5, 2026, clarifying that it never approved modified versions of Form 6 used for enrolling new voters during the Special Intensive Revision process.

Opposition leaders allege that unilateral decisions and data irregularities during voter list revisions led to millions of deletions nationwide, with critics claiming 13.5 crore voters have been omitted.

Heavy security barricading and deployment of police forces were implemented around Parliament and the Election Commission headquarters ahead of the peaceful march led by figures including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

As part of a broader 'Save Democracy' campaign, the INDIA bloc announced plans for district-level padyatras until October 8, block-level meetings through October 20, and state-level rallies running from October 25 to November 25, 2026.

On October 6, 2026, opposition parliamentarians belonging to the INDIA bloc organized a protest march from Parliament House to Nirvachan Sadan, the headquarters of the Election Commission of India in New Delhi.

The demonstration was staged to demand the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and protest alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision process, which reportedly led to the deletion of over 13 crore voter names nationwide.

Ahead of the march, Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force personnel heavily fortified Vijay Chowk and the Election Commission headquarters with multiple layers of barricades to maintain law and order.

While the Biju Janata Dal joined the opposition protest, the Aam Aadmi Party declined to participate in the march, stating it would contest the issue independently.

Opposition leaders announced a nationwide 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' campaign starting October 10 alongside district-level marches continuing through October 8.

On October 5, 2026, India's Supreme Court issued notices to the government, the Election Commission of India, and its head Gyanesh Kumar to demand transparent explanations regarding the removal of 130 million names from the national electoral roll.

Chief Justice Surya Kant stated during the Monday hearing that the Supreme Court never approved the modified registration form used by the election body, directly contradicting claims made by the commission last month.

The mass voter purge, termed a "special intensive revision" by officials claiming to eliminate ineligible names and illegal infiltrators, has triggered nationwide protests led by student groups and the Cockroach Janta Party demanding Kumar's resignation.

The petitions follow a media report revealing that two of the election commission's three members had formally objected at least 14 times to key decisions made during the revision process.

On October 5, 2026, a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notices to the Election Commission of India, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and other respondents regarding alleged unilateral decisions.

Petitions before the court claim that 14 crucial decisions concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls were made in the ECI's name despite recorded objections from two other Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah publicly welcomed the Supreme Court's intervention, expressing hope that the judicial review would rectify shortcomings and address alleged mistakes made by the Chief Election Commissioner.

The Supreme Court declined to issue an ex-parte interim order to suspend Gyanesh Kumar, stating it required authenticated records first and noting that any decision found violating statutory frameworks could be annulled.

Addressing modifications to electoral paperwork, Chief Justice Surya Kant explicitly stated that any modified Form 6 had not been approved by the court and that records would be examined to determine who authorized the changes.

On October 5, 2026, the Election Commission of India termed Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's allegation that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar illegally altered voter registration Form 6 as misleading.

The Election Commission maintained that its June 24, 2025 Special Intensive Revision order for Bihar received unanimous approval and was upheld by the Supreme Court on May 27, 2026.

During a hearing on a plea by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi seeking prosecution of election officials, Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that the court had not approved any modified Form 6 and would inspect records to see who introduced the changes.

The controversy centers on a new online Form 6 declaration requiring applicants to state if they or their parents were mapped in a previous Special Intensive Revision exercise, a requirement absent in standard voter roll revisions.

The Press Information Bureau issued a fact check on October 5, 2026, refuting social media claims that the Election Commission had removed its September 26 press note concerning Form 6 from its official website.

On October 5, 2026, Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya Kant stated that the apex court had not approved any modified version of Form 6, contradicting a September 26 Election Commission of India press release.

Following the Supreme Court's observation, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of illegally altering Form 6 and demanded his resignation.

The Supreme Court refused to issue an ex-parte interim order for the suspension of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, instead issuing notices to the Centre, the Election Commission, and top officials while demanding authenticated records.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the party's three non-negotiable demands are the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, the cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision, and a return to ballot papers.

The petition before the Supreme Court alleged that 14 crucial Special Intensive Revision decisions were taken unilaterally by the CEC in the name of the Election Commission, bypassing objections from two other Election Commissioners.

On October 5, 2026, a delegation of former civil servants and activists issued a people's impeachment notice against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, invoking Article 324(5) of the Constitution.

Police barricaded roads leading to the Election Commission headquarters, preventing the 14-member delegation—which included former home secretary G.K. Pillai and former Delhi lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung—from submitting the notice in person, forcing them to email it instead.

The four-page chargesheet levies six main accusations against Kumar, including unauthorized alterations to statutory Form 6 and centralizing electoral roll administration through the ECINET platform.

The notice alleges that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls caused mass disenfranchisement, resulting in the deletion of 13.3 million names from pre-revision rolls and disproportionately impacting women, migrants, minorities, and the elderly.

On October 5, 2026, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav announced a two-day state-wide agitation in Bihar starting October 7 against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Yadav alleged that ₹50,000 crore was siphoned from the Bihar state treasury to purchase votes and that ₹10,000 was deposited into women's accounts until election day in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

The opposition leader claimed that the Chief Election Commissioner reduced the retention period of voting records from one year to 45 days and accused him of acting as a puppet of the Bharatiya Janata Party by mass removal of voters' names.

INDIA bloc parties will organize block-level Aakrosh Marches on October 7, followed by district-level sit-in protests and a demonstration at the Lok Bhavan in Patna on October 8 led by Yadav.

Bihar BJP spokesperson Niraj Kumar Sharma dismissed the allegations as frustration over the 2025 mandate, accusing the opposition of masking past governance practices like booth capturing.

On October 5, 2026, a Supreme Court bench consisting of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana issued notices to the Centre, the Election Commission of India, and the three Election Commissioners following a petition challenging whether Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar could individually exercise powers of the multi-member body.

Senior advocate Vikas Singh argued before the Supreme Court that the credibility of the Election Commission of India had been undermined and requested an interim directive that all commission decisions be unanimous, though the bench responded that matters lacking unanimity must be decided by majority.

Election Commission of India sources and the Press Information Bureau dismissed social media claims made by Ashutosh Ranka, clarifying on October 5, 2026, that the September 26 press note modifying Form 6 Special Intensive Revision procedures and extending deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra was never removed from the official website.

The disputed September 26 press note assigned Booth Level Officers - local election officials responsible for electoral roll management - to collect notice-related additional documents directly from voters' homes.

On October 5, 2026, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that the Supreme Court never approved any modified version of Form 6 used for voter registration during the Special Intensive Revision.

The Supreme Court's clarification directly contradicted an Election Commission press release issued on September 26, 2026, which claimed the new Form 6 declaration had been upheld by the apex court.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana heard a writ petition filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi seeking the prosecution of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged unilateral decisions.

The controversy arose after two Election Commissioners objected to the new Form 6 declaration, arguing that changes could not be made without the Central Government amending the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

On October 5, 2026, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated the party's three demands regarding the electoral framework are non-negotiable: the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision, and a return to ballot papers.

Congress workers and INDIA bloc alliance partners are holding nationwide protests and marches, including a Save Democracy March from October 2 to October 8, 2026, alongside demonstrations by youth organizations like the All India Students' Association.

Three women journalists filed complaints alleging sexual misconduct and manhandling by Delhi Police personnel during a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 3, 2026, leading to a Crime Branch inquiry.

In Mumbai, opposition leaders Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray organized a Garjana Morcha against the Election Commission, which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena criticized as a publicity stunt.

The political confrontation follows reports that Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu recorded 14 objections over key files in the last 10 months concerning the Special Intensive Revision exercise.

On October 4, 2026, thousands of youth protesters and opposition leaders including Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray rallied in New Delhi and Mumbai demanding the resignation of Election Commission Chief Gyanesh Kumar.

Demonstrators accused the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls of wrongly removing millions of eligible voters to favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, an allegation denied by both the commission and the party.

Delhi police detained dozens of protesters for a third consecutive day, registering cases against some individuals for violating orders that ban mass gatherings in the capital.

The Election Commission stated the revision aims to maintain electoral integrity by removing duplicate, deceased, or ineligible entries, and directed officials on Friday to register eligible voters inadvertently omitted from the rolls.

Opposition alliances and the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party planned further demonstrations, including an upcoming march to the Election Commission office and an October 10 rally in Delhi.

On October 5, 2026, a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana is scheduled to hear petitions filed by Rakesh Kumar Singh and advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi seeking the suspension of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The petitions allege that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar bypassed collective decision-making requirements under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 18 of the 2023 Act, making unilateral decisions that drew at least 14 recorded objections from fellow Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi between October 2025 and August 2026.

Petitioner Shailendra Mani Tripathi has asked for criminal proceedings and a forensic audit of databases, citing the deletion of 13 crore names across 30 States and Union Territories and the unauthorized filing of 16.10 lakh appeals in West Bengal.

The Election Commission defended its actions by stating that internal differing views are part of normal administrative deliberations and that all its orders carry full legal sanction.

On October 4, 2026, estranged cousins Raj Thackeray of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena UBT led a joint protest march in Mumbai against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Dubbed the Virat Garjana Morcha, the march began at Metro Cinema and proceeded toward the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters to demand the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner.

Organizers prohibited all political party flags during the demonstration, requiring participants to carry exclusively the national tricolour.

Leaders from Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) participated alongside the Thackeray factions to protest alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Raj Thackeray demanded the immediate cancellation of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision process and called upon opposition parties nationwide to unite in demanding a return to paper ballots.

On October 2, 2026, opposition parties, student unions, and civil society groups staged coordinated protests across India demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over electoral roll revisions.

Delhi Police detained approximately 700 protesters, including prominent political leaders and student activists, after denying permission for demonstrations near Jantar Mantar.

Authorities imposed strict security measures in central Delhi on October 2, shutting down internet services, barring entry at 12 metro stations, and enforcing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

Protesters alleged that roughly 13 crore names were improperly deleted during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls under the current election commission leadership.

Demonstrations also took place in Mumbai at Shivaji Park, alongside rallies in cities including Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Patna, Jaipur, and Vijayawada.

On October 3, 2026, Indian police in New Delhi detained roughly 100 demonstrators after security barricades were removed during a second consecutive day of protests led by the Gen Z-backed Cockroach Janta Party.

Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of Election Commission of India chief Gyanesh Kumar and claim a nationwide voter-verification exercise improperly removed millions of eligible voters to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governing party.

Prominent figures detained or participating in the protests included independent lawmaker Kapil Sibal, student leader Neha Bora, and political activists Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav.

Delhi police prohibited unauthorized gatherings and demonstrations around the Jantar Mantar protest site, while Apple removed the peer-to-peer messaging app Bitchat from its Indian App Store after authorities deemed it illegal.

Opposition groups and the Cockroach Janta Party announced plans for further escalations, including a march to the Election Commission on October 6 and a mass mobilization of young Indians on October 10.

On October 2, 2026, Delhi Police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita across the New Delhi district ahead of an unauthorized protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Authorities closed entry and exit gates at 11 metro stations - including Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, and New Delhi - though interchange facilities remained operational at major hubs.

Student and youth groups, alongside political parties like the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress, organized the demonstrations to demand the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Violating the Section 163 order carries penalties under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which can result in up to six months in jail, a 2,500 rupee fine, or both if disobedience causes public obstruction or annoyance.

On October 2, 2026, Delhi Police detained Aam Aadmi Party Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj and MLA Sanjeev Jha at Jantar Mantar during a demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll irregularities.

Authorities deployed heavy security and invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita across the New Delhi district, prohibiting unauthorized gatherings, public speeches, and demonstrations.

Prior to his detention, Bharadwaj claimed that police personnel and a station house officer were stationed outside his residence overnight despite his absence.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and Aam Aadmi Party, plan to launch a Save Democracy campaign featuring district-level marches and a larger rally outside the Election Commission office on October 6, 2026.

Student organizations such as the All India Students Association and Students Federation of India joined the opposition mobilization against the Special Intensive Revision process.

On October 1, 2026, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar led a five-hour protest at the State Chief Electoral Officer's office in Bengaluru, prompting the Election Commission of India to order a formal probe into bulk Form-7 submissions.

Karnataka Police registered five FIRs under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita across districts including Belagavi and Bhalki after opposition workers allegedly filed thousands of pre-printed Form-7 applications in bulk to delete eligible voters.

State officials reported that seven BJP workers in Vijayapura attempted to delete over 13,000 predominantly Muslim voters in two days before withdrawing their applications in writing after warnings of punitive action.

Following the protests, the Election Commission directed Electoral Registration Officers not to accept bulk Form-7 applications as routine and mandated strict inquiries under Rule 20 before taking legal action under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

The Bharatiya Janata Party defended its actions, stating it had every right to flag suspicious additions to draft voter lists, such as alleged illegal immigrants, and denied committing any crime.

On October 2, 2026, Delhi Police denied permission for a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll irregularities.

Authorities deployed 4,000 security personnel, including Central Armed Police Forces, Rapid Action Force, and paramilitary units, alongside multi-layer barricades around Lutyens' Delhi.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation closed entry and exit gates at 11 stations, including Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, and New Delhi, though interchange facilities remained operational.

Delhi Police enforced Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, making unauthorized assemblies, public addresses, and protests in the New Delhi district illegal.

The protests, organized by student bodies like the All India Students' Association, political figures, and civil society groups, followed media reports of internal objections raised by fellow election commissioners.

Delhi Police denied permission for the October 2, 2026 Jantar Mantar protest and increased security around New Delhi, including Central Armed Police Forces deployment and barricades near roads leading to the venue.

AAP leaders called the Gandhi Jayanti protest to demand Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over the Election Commission’s handling of the Special Intensive Revision, an electoral-roll update process.

Atishi, AAP MLA and former Delhi chief minister, asked people to reach Jantar Mantar at 10 AM on October 2, saying the right to vote was under threat.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh alleged that 1.37 crore voter names had been deleted under the Special Intensive Revision, while another report quoted him saying more than 13 crore names had been deleted nationwide.

AAP leader Anurag Dhanda separately promoted the October 2 Jantar Mantar gathering at 10 AM with the hashtag #ChunavAayogThikKaro, meaning “Fix the Election Commission.”

On October 1, 2026, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the Election Commission of India and Tata Consultancy Services over alleged illegal modifications made to the online Form 6 voter registration application.

Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised recorded objections against the portal alterations and flagged at least 14 decisions issued without their knowledge over a 10-month period.

The opposition INDIA bloc announced nationwide Save Democracy Marches across districts from October 2 to October 8, alongside plans to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that the Form 6 modifications were unconstitutionally introduced in mid-July 2026 to remove young voters from electoral rolls.

On September 30 and October 1, 2026, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar alleged that over 50 million voters disappeared from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision process.

Shivakumar accused certain Bharatiya Janata Party leaders of submitting Form 7 applications in bulk to target minority, backward-class, Scheduled Caste, and Scheduled Tribe communities.

The Chief Minister directed authorities to register First Information Reports against individuals involved in criminal activities related to the electoral roll manipulation and demanded the scrapping of the revision process.

Form 7 is the official document used under election rules to submit claims or objections seeking the deletion of names from voter lists.

In response to the controversy, INDIA bloc leaders announced a nationwide Save Democracy March from October 2 to October 8, 2026, alongside plans to march to the Election Commission on October 6.

On September 30, 2026, an alliance of two dozen Indian opposition parties announced nationwide protests to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following a newspaper investigation alleging vote manipulation.

The controversy stems from a newspaper report revealing that the Election Commission pushed through large-scale voter list revisions without the approval of two of the three election commissioners.

Opposition leaders claim the voter roll alterations were designed to favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, while the Election Commission maintains all its actions were lawful.

Protest plans include a march to the Election Commission headquarters in New Delhi on October 6, 2026, a major rally on November 1, 2026, and a formal representation submitted to the president.

On September 30, 2026, opposition parties comprising the INDIA bloc demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the rollback of the Special Intensive Revision voter list process, and a return to paper ballots for future elections.

During a protest march in Thiruvananthapuram on September 30, 2026, police used a mild lathi charge and tear gas to disperse Youth Congress demonstrators after clashes involving Students Federation of India banners.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced a nationwide Save Democracy March at the district level from October 2 to October 8, 2026, alongside plans for opposition members of parliament to march to the Election Commission on October 6.

The opposition escalation follows an investigation revealing that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months regarding voter additions, deletions, and database access.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticized the opposition demands as frustration after defeat, stating that criticism of the poll body only arises when opposition parties lose elections.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and the INDIA bloc are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging he uses lifelong legal immunity to manipulate electoral outcomes for the government.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge claims that 133 million voters were removed from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision exercise, calling for a return to previous voter lists.

The INDIA bloc is evaluating a legal challenge against Section 16 of the 2023 Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, which grants election officials immunity from civil and criminal prosecution for official duties.

Internal dissent exists within the Congress party regarding strategy, with some members favoring mass public protests over courtroom challenges to avoid legitimizing the current immunity laws.

The INDIA bloc announced a series of nationwide protests, including district-level 'Save Democracy Marches' from October 2 to 8 and a major rally in Delhi on November 1, to challenge alleged electoral manipulation.

Opposition MPs plan to march to the Election Commission on October 6, while alliance leaders intend to seek a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu in the second week of October to present their grievances.

Opposition leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a return to paper ballots instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

The protests follow reports that two Election Commissioners raised internal objections 14 times regarding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which the Election Commission maintains followed standard statutory procedures.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a return to paper ballot voting, replacing Electronic Voting Machines, to ensure the sanctity of the electoral process.

The opposition alliance called for the use of pre-Special Intensive Revision electoral rolls for future elections, citing the alleged removal of 13.3 million voters during the recent revision process.

Kharge demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, noting that two other commissioners filed 14 formal objections regarding the Special Intensive Revision process over the last 10 months.

The six-point reform plan includes requirements for constituency-level transparency in voter list updates, an effective appeals process for removed voters, and simplified registration for first-time voters.

Opposition leaders gathered in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss alleged electoral fraud and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, specifically targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The protest follows an investigative report claiming two Election Commissioners formally objected 14 times over 10 months to procedures linked to the Special Intensive Revision exercise.

Opposition figures allege that the government reduced the mandatory voting record preservation period from one year to 45 days to facilitate the destruction of evidence.

The Bharatiya Janata Party dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, noting that the Election Commission provides a one-month window for public objections following the draft publication of electoral rolls.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed the INDIA bloc is fracturing due to a lack of consensus on Rahul Gandhi's leadership, citing the absence of key figures like Akhilesh Yadav and Uddhav Thackeray from the New Delhi meeting.

Opposition parties convened at the Constitution Club to formulate a strategy regarding the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

CPI MP P Sandosh demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while the Congress Working Committee passed a formal resolution calling for his removal.

The government defended the Special Intensive Revision process, arguing that removing deceased or non-citizen individuals from voter lists is essential for maintaining democratic integrity.

Former Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh alleges that 13 crore voters—roughly 13% of the electorate—have been removed from rolls during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision without proper inquiry or due process.

Singh claims the Election Commission violated Sections 21 and 22 of the Representation of the People Act by conducting a nationwide revision rather than limiting it to specific constituencies as required by law.

Internal friction within the Election Commission has surfaced, with Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly kept in the dark regarding at least 14 major decisions over the past 10 months.

Singh has urged Opposition parties to boycott future elections until the current Election Commissioners resign and the selection process is reverted to include a Supreme Court judge.

INDIA bloc leaders met on September 30, 2026, to finalize a nationwide joint agitation and a parliamentary motion to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The opposition's push follows reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi filed 14 formal objections over the last 10 months regarding Special Intensive Revision (SIR) orders issued without their input.

Key allies including the AAP and DMK skipped the meeting, though the DMK confirmed it would support the removal motion against the CEC in Parliament.

The Election Commission maintains that all SIR decisions followed statutory procedures and that internal disagreements are a standard part of institutional deliberation.

Opposition parties gathered at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on September 30, 2026, to coordinate a political strategy regarding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

The Congress Working Committee formally passed a resolution demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

BJP National Media In-charge Ashish Usha Agarwal publicly questioned Rahul Gandhi's leadership, suggesting that internal alliance divisions would become visible during the meeting.

The Election Commission recently withdrew a controversial SIR-related declaration requirement from online voter enrollment Form 6 in states where the revision exercise has concluded.

The Election Commission of India faces nationwide protests and calls for the resignation of head Gyanesh Kumar after roughly 130 million people were excluded from initial voter draft lists.

Opposition parties allege the verification process is biased toward the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, citing internal commission reports of ignored concerns and machine-generated eligibility notices flagged by the Supreme Court.

Verification efforts in Uttar Pradesh, a critical political state, resulted in the deletion of 13% of names from the rolls, following similar controversies in Bihar and West Bengal.

In response to mounting pressure, the commission announced procedural changes on September 26, 2026, including mandatory home visits for document collection and extended verification deadlines.

On September 29, 2026, the Supreme Court declined to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding a central law and mandatory guidelines to combat bullying and ragging in primary and secondary schools.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, ruled that the court had already issued a previous judgment on the matter and that a new petition could not be used simply to enforce existing directives.

The petitioner argued that current measures, such as the 2024 National Commission for Protection of Child Rights guidelines, are merely advisory and lack the statutory enforceability required to protect students.

While the court dismissed the plea, it granted the petitioner permission to submit a formal representation to the relevant government authorities for further consideration.

CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby was detained by police during a protest outside the Election Commission of India in New Delhi on September 29, 2026.

Opposition leaders allege that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has resulted in the removal of approximately 130 million citizens from voter lists.

The Supreme Court of India has scheduled a hearing for next week to address a petition challenging the legality of the Special Intensive Revision exercise and the conduct of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Internal friction within the Election Commission has surfaced, with reports indicating that two commissioners formally objected to decisions regarding the revision process on at least 14 occasions over the past 10 months.

Five Left parties have launched a week-long nationwide protest campaign running from September 26 to October 2 to demand the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.

The Congress Working Committee demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing internal dissent regarding the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists.

Congress is calling for the restoration of over 13 crore names removed from electoral rolls, while the BJP argues these removals were necessary to eliminate duplicate and deceased voter entries.

BJP leader Smriti Irani defended the Election Commission's verification process, noting that Booth Level Officers are conducting door-to-door checks to confirm voter status.

Irani challenged Congress to explain if they apply the same scrutiny to the Election Commission's performance in states governed by opposition parties, such as Punjab, Kerala, and Karnataka.

The Congress Working Committee has demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging he oversaw the unauthorized removal of 13.3 crore names from national electoral rolls.

The party is calling for the suspension of the Special Intensive Revision process, claiming it lacks constitutional validity and transparency, while demanding the restoration of all deleted voter records.

Internal friction within the Election Commission surfaced as reports indicated fellow commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally objected to SIR procedures at least 14 times over the past 10 months.

The Election Commission maintains that all electoral roll decisions were approved unanimously by the full commission and that internal disagreements are a standard part of institutional decision-making.

Karnataka Minister Ajay Dharam Singh publicly called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging the poll panel is making unilateral decisions.

Opposition leaders claim that Election Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi have recorded formal dissent regarding internal commission affairs approximately 14 times over the past 10 months.

The criticism follows allegations from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who accused the Chief Election Commissioner of undermining the constitutional body and engaging in anti-national activities.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called a Working Committee meeting for September 29 to strategize on the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following allegations of political bias.

Opposition leaders cite reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding voter roll databases, deletions, and Form 6 enrollment procedures.

The Election Commission maintains that all Special Intensive Revision orders received unanimous approval from all three commissioners and that internal operational queries are a standard part of administrative decision-making.

The INDIA bloc is scheduled to meet on September 30 to coordinate a joint parliamentary strategy, including a potential formal notice for the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk endorsed the Cockroach Janta Party's October 2 protest in Mumbai against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, though he may not attend in person.

The protest follows reports that Election Commissioners S.S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally objected 14 times in 10 months to decisions regarding voter roll revisions and registration.

The Election Commission maintains that all Special Intensive Revision decisions were unanimous, while announcing new measures to allow home visits for voters facing registration discrepancies.

Opposition parties in the INDIA bloc are scheduled to meet on September 30 to coordinate a response regarding the Election Commission's recent administrative actions.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were rigged.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized Gandhi's public statements, warning that amplifying these allegations against the Election Commission sends a harmful message to society.

The Election Commission maintains that all decisions regarding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls were made with the unanimous approval of all three commissioners.

Media reports alleged that two Election Commissioners raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding procedures, prompting opposition demands for transparency.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi warned that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls could serve as the foundation for a future National Register of Citizens, urging citizens to respond to notices to avoid losing voting rights or citizenship.

Reports indicate that two Election Commissioners submitted 14 notes of dissent over 10 months regarding decisions made without their consultation, fueling allegations of a lack of coordination within the Election Commission of India.

The Election Commission of India maintains that all SIR-related decisions were reached with unanimous approval and clarified that recent correspondence with the Cabinet Secretary concerned an officer on deputation, not policy matters.

Political opposition, including the Trinamool Congress and Congress, has called for the removal of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing concerns over the SIR process and alleged political bias.

Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly filed at least 14 objections over 10 months regarding procedures for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Rahul Gandhi accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of election match-fixing, citing claims that Kumar previously attempted to recruit a former official for the BJP while serving as an IAS officer.

The Election Commission of India rejected reports of internal disagreement, asserting that all decisions regarding the electoral roll revision were made with unanimous approval.

The INDIA Bloc, an opposition coalition, is scheduled to meet on September 30 to discuss the ongoing controversy and allegations of vote theft.

Former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson claims Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar suggested he contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket from the Pathanamthitta constituency.

Thomson stated the conversation occurred on a flight to Delhi between 2015 and 2016, during which Kumar allegedly suggested that Thomson's minority status would facilitate a potential Union Cabinet position.

CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam has demanded Kumar's immediate resignation, citing the disclosure as evidence of political bias within the Election Commission.

Thomson characterized the interaction as a friendly suggestion rather than a formal offer and confirmed he rejected the proposal due to a lack of political ambition.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray announced a joint public rally in Mumbai on October 4 to protest the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The Thackeray leaders are inviting all opposition political parties to join the demonstration, aiming to frame the event as a broad public movement rather than a partisan political protest.

Raj Thackeray has demanded the immediate cancellation of the SIR process and called for a nationwide movement to return to the use of paper ballots for elections.

The protest organizers accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of institutional bias and alleged that the electoral roll revision process is being used to manipulate voter lists.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM G. Parameshwara have formally demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing reports that two fellow Election Commissioners recorded 14 written objections to his decisions over the past 10 months.

The internal objections reportedly concern the Special Intensive Revision process, unauthorized changes to voter registration Form 6, and the centralization of the electoral-roll database, which critics claim bypasses local statutory officials.

Election Commission officials have officially rejected reports of an internal rift, asserting that all commission decisions, including those regarding the Special Intensive Revision, received approval from all three Election Commissioners.

In Karnataka's recent electoral roll revision, the Election Commission flagged approximately 1.08 crore voters under categories including absent, shifted, duplicate, or deceased, with an additional 4.38 million voters facing notices for logical discrepancies.

The Congress party launched nationwide protests, including a major demonstration at Bengaluru's Freedom Park, demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Congress leaders allege that the revision process resulted in the mass deletion of over 10 million voters in Karnataka, 9 million in West Bengal, and 6.3 million in Bihar, disproportionately affecting minority and Dalit communities.

Internal friction within the Election Commission of India has surfaced, with reports indicating that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding procedural decisions.

The Bharatiya Janata Party dismissed the allegations as a political narrative intended to distract from consecutive electoral defeats, asserting that the Election Commission operates within its established statutory framework.

Opposition parties are coordinating a potential third removal notice against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following reports that two other commissioners raised objections 14 times over 10 months regarding electoral roll revisions.

The INDIA bloc is scheduled to convene on September 30 at the Constitution Club to discuss halting the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and addressing concerns over the Election Commission's transparency.

The Election Commission maintains that internal disagreements are standard institutional procedure and asserts that all final decisions regarding the revision process were reached unanimously by the three commissioners.

Left parties have initiated a nationwide protest campaign running from September 26 to October 2, while the Congress party has intensified demonstrations across multiple states, including Assam and Jammu and Kashmir.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President B.K. Hariprasad alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar unilaterally overruled dissent from two other commissioners 14 times over the last 10 months during the Special Intensive Revision process.

Hariprasad claims the Election Commission removed 1.07 crore votes in Karnataka, 91 lakh in West Bengal, and 63 lakh in Bihar, disproportionately affecting minority and Dalit voters.

The Congress party has organized protests at Freedom Park and across all districts, demanding the immediate resignation and arrest of the Chief Election Commissioner.

The allegations include the submission of 65,000 unsigned voter deletion applications and the modification of Form 6, which is used for voter registration and updates.

Congress workers staged nationwide demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with police using water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters in states including Bihar, Punjab, and Manipur.

The protests follow reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised 14 formal objections over 10 months regarding electoral roll revisions and database access decisions made without their authorization.

West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya publicly defended Kumar, stating he deserves the Padma Bhushan for his role in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the removal of alleged infiltrators from voter lists.

A Supreme Court petition has been filed challenging administrative decisions and software changes allegedly implemented by Kumar without the concurrence of the other two election commissioners.

Odisha Congress leaders and workers marched from the Additional District Magistrate office to the Chief Electoral Officer's office in Bhubaneswar on September 25, 2026, to demand the resignation and impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The protest follows reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally objected 14 times over the last 10 months to decisions they claimed were made without their knowledge or proper consultation.

Congress officials allege that the Election Commission violated the Representation of the People Act of 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules of 1960 during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Police deployed 10 platoons of security forces to the site, where clashes occurred between protesters and officers after the crowd was blocked from reaching the Chief Electoral Officer's building.

The Election Commission stated that differing views among commissioners are a normal part of institutional deliberations and maintained that all its orders hold full legal sanction.

Congress MP Manish Tewari demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe following reports that two fellow commissioners raised 14 internal objections over 10 months regarding electoral roll procedures.

Tewari alleged that the Special Intensive Revision exercise resulted in the removal of 13 crore people from electoral rolls, characterizing the process as the largest disenfranchisement event globally.

Congress workers held nationwide protests against the Election Commission, with demonstrations in states including Punjab, Bihar, and Manipur involving police use of water cannons, tear gas, and the burning of effigies.

The opposition party claims the electoral roll management has been improperly centralized, restricting local officers' access and creating an opaque system that lacks transparency regarding the deletion of voters.

On September 25, 2026, Delhi Police detained approximately 50 protesters at Jantar Mantar for holding an unauthorized demonstration calling for the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Detainees included prominent political figures such as CPI(ML) Liberation General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, RJD MP Manoj Jha, and Delhi Congress Chief Devender Yadav, who was intercepted during a separate march to Nirvachan Sadan.

The protests were triggered by allegations of irregularities in the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which critics claim involved fraudulent manipulation of voter rolls.

The Election Commission stated that internal disagreements are a standard part of its multi-member constitutional process and maintained that all final decisions regarding the SIR were reached unanimously.

The Supreme Court dismissed a petition on September 25, 2026, that sought to establish a commission to recommend making Hindi an official language of the court.

Chief Justice Surya Kant stated that language reforms in the judiciary must occur gradually through institutional processes rather than via judicial orders.

Justice V Mohana noted that the requested relief would effectively require a constitutional amendment, which falls outside the court's authority.

Article 348(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution currently mandates that all proceedings in the Supreme Court be conducted in English unless Parliament legislates otherwise.

A Supreme Court petition seeks criminal prosecution of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for allegedly bypassing collective decision-making on 14 administrative orders.

The plea challenges unauthorized modifications to Form 6 and electoral databases, citing formal objections from Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.

Petitioners demand a forensic audit of electoral systems following claims that 13 crore names were deleted and 16.10 lakh unauthorized appeals were filed in West Bengal.

Legal filings in the Supreme Court and Bombay High Court request the restoration of deleted voters and a stay on the Special Intensive Revision process in Maharashtra.

Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi and several senior party leaders were detained by police on September 25, 2026, after attempting to breach barricades during a protest in Guwahati.

The demonstration was part of a nationwide Congress campaign demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following reports of internal dissent regarding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Recent media reports alleged that two sitting Election Commissioners formally recorded objections at least 14 times over a 10-month period concerning database changes and voter list procedures.

The Election Commission of India has rejected claims of institutional dissent, stating that internal observations are standard for a multi-member body and that all final decisions regarding the revision process were unanimous.

Congress workers held demonstrations at 36 locations nationwide on September 25, 2026, to demand the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll manipulation.

Protests were triggered by reports that two fellow Election Commissioners formally dissented against Kumar’s decisions at least 14 times over a 10-month period regarding the Special Intensive Revision process.

Opposition leaders allege that the Special Intensive Revision process, which they claim resulted in the deletion of 13 crore voter names, violated statutory requirements under the Representation of People’s Act.

The Election Commission of India rejected claims of institutional dissent, characterizing the internal objections as standard administrative feedback and maintaining that all final decisions were unanimous.

Demonstrations escalated into violence in Manipur, where police used tear gas against protesters, while authorities in Chandigarh deployed water cannons to disperse crowds.

Congress MLAs staged a protest inside the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on September 25, 2026, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The demonstration follows reports that two other Election Commissioners raised objections at least 14 times over a 10-month period regarding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather reprimanded the protesting lawmakers for bringing banners into the chamber, noting that the Election Commission of India operates outside the jurisdiction of the J&K Assembly.

The Congress party plans to escalate its campaign with a demonstration in front of the Election Commission office in Jammu, led by AICC General Secretary Sayed Naseer Hussain.

BJD president Naveen Patnaik demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following reports of internal friction within the three-member Election Commission.

Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly filed formal objections at least 14 times over the last 10 months regarding the CEC's decisions on electoral-roll revisions.

Patnaik called for a thorough review of the Special Intensive Revision process, alleging that the exercise resulted in the improper exclusion of 25 lakh eligible voters in Odisha.

The BJD has raised concerns over national electoral data, citing reports that 13 crore names were removed from draft voter rolls across 30 states and union territories.

Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi have demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging he oversaw the deletion of 13 million voters from electoral rolls.

Reports indicate that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally raised objections to the Special Intensive Revision process at least 14 times over a 10-month period.

The Election Commission of India maintains that all decisions regarding the voter list revision were unanimous and that internal queries were part of standard administrative procedures.

Congress officials are calling for criminal prosecution and the removal of legal protections for the Chief Election Commissioner, characterizing the alleged irregularities as an act of treason against the nation.

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara have called for the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing concerns over the integrity of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The state leadership alleges that the current revision process, specifically the use of Forms 6, 7, and 8, is being misused for political purposes and could disenfranchise illiterate and disadvantaged citizens.

Deputy CM Parameshwara questioned the internal governance of the Election Commission of India, claiming that the Chief Election Commissioner is bypassing the majority view of the three-member body to impose unilateral decisions.

The Karnataka government is demanding that the current SIR process be scrapped entirely and replaced with a fresh, comprehensive revision of electoral data to ensure voting rights are protected.

Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly filed 14 formal objections over 10 months regarding electoral roll procedures, including voter deletions and Form 6 modifications.

The Election Commission of India stated that all final decisions, including the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, were reached unanimously and followed standard internal compliance protocols.

West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh dismissed the reports as baseless, asserting that previous judicial reviews of the electoral roll revision process found no evidence of wrongdoing.

Opposition leaders have demanded increased scrutiny of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's leadership following the emergence of the internal disagreement reports.

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called for the arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and fresh Assembly elections, alleging the 2026 polls were compromised by voter list manipulation.

The controversy centers on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which saw approximately 7.9 million names—roughly 10% of the state's voter list—removed between the 2024 Lok Sabha and 2026 Assembly elections.

Internal friction within the Election Commission surfaced as reports indicated Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally objected 14 times over 10 months regarding SIR-related decisions, though the Commission maintains all actions were unanimous.

As of September 2026, over 3.7 million appeals regarding changes made during the Special Intensive Revision process remained pending before tribunals.

The Election Commission of India stated that all recent decisions, including the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls, were unanimous despite reports that two commissioners formally objected 14 times over 10 months.

Internal reports alleged that commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi were excluded from key decision-making processes, leading them to label certain actions as unauthorized.

The Commission defended its internal notes and observations as standard administrative practice, asserting that all orders maintain full legal sanction under the 2023 Appointment and Conditions of Service Act.

Opposition leaders have publicly accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of autocracy and are calling for his removal following the disclosure of the internal dissent.

Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly filed formal objections 14 times over 10 months regarding unilateral policy shifts by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The dispute centers on unauthorized changes to Form 6, which added mandatory ancestor declaration requirements for new voters without necessary Ministry of Law and Justice notification.

Dissenting commissioners warned that centralizing voter database control in Delhi's IT division undermines local field officers' authority and creates security risks for electoral roll integrity.

The Election Commission of India officially denied the reports of dissent, asserting that all decisions, including the Special Intensive Revision, were unanimous and signed by all three members.

Two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, formally recorded at least 14 objections over the past 10 months regarding decisions made by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar without their knowledge or approval.

The dissent centers on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which has deleted over 13 crore names from electoral rolls, with commissioners labeling specific software changes and form modifications as unauthorized and illegal.

Opposition leaders are calling for immediate impeachment proceedings against the Chief Election Commissioner and have urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of the alleged institutional subversion.

The Election Commission of India officially denied the rift, asserting that all decisions, including those related to the Special Intensive Revision, were reached unanimously by all three commissioners.

Congress claims that the ongoing third phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has resulted in the deletion of 6.18 crore voters, representing a 17% removal rate across 12 states and two Union Territories.

An additional 5.43 crore voters, or 15% of the electorate in the current phase, have received notices requiring further documentation to prevent their names from being removed from electoral rolls.

Combined data from the first two phases of the revision process, which began in June 2025, shows 7.8 crore names were previously deleted at a rate of 13%.

The opposition party alleges that approximately one in three voters in the current phase face either deletion or the risk of removal, with the highest impact reported in Delhi at 53.73% and Chandigarh at 52.58%.

Congress alleges that the process disproportionately targets economically disadvantaged citizens and women, while shifting the burden of proof for eligibility onto individual voters.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar met with over 500 booth-level officers and 30 supervisors in Lucknow on August 25, 2026, to discuss their role as the primary interface between citizens and the Election Commission.

The April 2026 Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh resulted in a final list of over 13.39 crore registered electors.

The electoral roll revision process involved 1.77 lakh booth-level officers and was subject to a concurrent audit by more than 5.82 lakh booth-level agents representing recognized political parties.