Live: Opposition protests against CEC as Rahul and Kharge approach Supreme Court

Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge was spotted wearing a Batman mask during the INDIA bloc's march toward the Supreme Court. image (45).jpg Photo credit: Reuters

Rahul Gandhi entered the Supreme Court Registry as fellow INDIA bloc leaders waited outside the court gates. Mr. Gandhi was accompanied by Priyanka Gandhi, Mallikarjuna Kharge, and Akhilesh Yadav. - Krishnadas Rajagopal

Bus with INDIA Bloc leaders turned towards Copernicus Marg (leading to India Gate circle). Barricades were put up to stop the protesters. INDIA bloc leaders took out a march on Monday towards SC in demand of resignation of CEC. WhatsApp Image 2026-10-12 at 6.16.25 PM.jpeg Photo credit: Vibha B. Madhava

Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi stated, “Individuals from across the nation have gathered here, bringing Delhi to a complete standstill. We strongly oppose the SIR and ‘vote theft’... They rigged voter rolls and hijacked elections in Haryana, Assam, and Bihar through these tactics. Now, they are planning to replicate this in Punjab. Consequently, citizens have taken to the streets to protect their voting rights from being erased...” - ANI

Law enforcement authorities began pushing back demonstrators near Barakhamba Road amidst the opposition coalition's protest march against the CEC.

Protecting democracy takes precedence over any political agenda; citizens have been stripped of their voting rights, remarked Congress MP Shashi Tharoor during the opposition's march to the Supreme Court.

Police reinforced security by adding more barricades on Bhagwan Das Road amid the opposition bloc's protest march targeting the CEC. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and others had already filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Monday afternoon alleging irregularities within the SIR.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation announced on October 12 at 5:04 p.m. that “entry and exit gates of all Metro Stations of the Delhi Metro network are now open. The interchange facility at all the concerned Metro stations is also available.”

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi approached the Supreme Court on Monday (October 12) demanding the establishment of an independent panel to probe the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the associated decision-making mechanism within the Election Commission of India. The petition requested a re-examination of the online voter registration infrastructure and portal services like ECINet. The senior Congress leader urged the apex court to summon official records and notes pertaining to the SIR procedure from the Election Commission of India. - Krishnadas Rajagopal WhatsApp Image 2026-10-12 at 5.10.33 PM.jpeg Photo credit: R. V. Moorthy

“We traveled all the way from Rajasthan to participate in this demonstration to safeguard our constitution,” stated a protester hailing from Dausa, Rajasthan.

WhatsApp Image 2026-10-12 at 4.52.14 PM.jpeg Photo credit: Congress

Law enforcement halted the opposition's march at the barricaded Bhagwan Dass Road. Representatives of the INDIA bloc are set to submit a petition to the Supreme Court demanding the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, an immediate suspension of the SIR process, and a halt to police crackdown on democratic voices. - PTI

The INDIA bloc announced plans to file a petition before the apex court concerning the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar alongside their grievances regarding the SIR procedure.

Commenting on the INDIA bloc's protest march, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav remarked, “The nation can only be preserved if the BJP is ousted. Democracy will be safeguarded only when the BJP is removed.”

Constituents of the INDIA alliance initiated their march toward the Supreme Court. Representatives from the bloc will submit a petition demanding the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, an immediate halt to the SIR initiative, and an end to police actions against democratic dissent.

AISA President Neha, Yogendra Yadav, and other representatives of Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) were among the delegation aboard the bus moving toward the Barakhamba junction.

Protesters aligned with LoP Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders to participate in the march to the Supreme Court concerning the CEC issue.

“We have journeyed all the way from Rajasthan to take part in this protest to safeguard our constitution,” stated a demonstrator from Dausa, Rajasthan.

The CPI(M) today vowed to intensify its struggle against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, demanding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, the withdrawal of the exercise and a repeal of the law governing the appointment of election commissioners. In a statement issued after its Central Committee meeting held here on October 9 and October 11, the Left party alleged that the SIR threatens democratic rights and the right to vote, and raised questions about the Election Commission’s (EC) functioning and independence. It said the credibility of the poll panel has suffered following a report published in The Indian Express on the SIR process. The party alleged that workers of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre are submitting Form-7 applications in bulk to get genuine voters deleted, and raised concerns over changes to the EC’s information-technology architecture and an alleged illegal amendment to Form 6. -PTI

69c309cf-b46b-47c5-af0d-bbee91c087c4.jpg From the anti-CEC march at the Barakhamba Road intersection. Photo: Ayaan Paul Chowdhury

The Congress today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site, alleging that democracy no longer mattered to them and that it was all a matter of “demokursi”. Congress general secretary in-charge, communications, Jairam Ramesh claimed that it was a definite sign of “extreme panic” gripping the PM-HM duo that the historic Jantar Mantar will no longer be a place where democracy is given a daily booster dose. “The poisonous pair is embattled, and we have seen in the past few days how brutally they have dealt with peaceful public protests,” he said on X. “Democracy no longer matters for them. It is all a matter of Demokursi,” Mr. Ramesh added. -PTI

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke today slammed the decision to denotify Jantar Mantar in Delhi as a designated protest site and warned “ab poora desh Jantar Mantar banega” (entire nation will turn into Jantar Mantar). A standing order issued on October 11 by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar named Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in east Delhi as the new designated sites for protests and demonstrations. “They have removed Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site. Yes, it’s no a longer protest site as anyway it was turned into a war zone by the coward dictator. Ab poora desh Jantar Mantar banega!,” Mr. Dipke said in a post on X. -PTI

The crowd start cheering loudly as Rahul Gandhi, standing inside the bus, is suddenly visible to the crowd following the INDIA bloc march from Barakhamba Road. a7223c01-44a0-4d96-9628-70c0e3ab258e.jpg Photo: Sushil Kumar Verma

Rahul Gandhi, in his press briefing, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is protecting Gyanesh Kumar.

Rahul Gandhi’s march to the Supreme Court to the Chief Justice of India is a “drama”, said Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Congress is trying to create anarchy by spreading falsehoods in its bid to come to power, he added. -PTI

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convener Saurav Das today said the government’s decision to denotify Jantar Mantar as a protest site is “unacceptable”, and they “do not accept this arbitrary decision”. The remarks came as Delhi Police denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated site for protests and named three new spots for holding such demonstrations, according to an official order. “Unacceptable. Why is Narendra Modi scared of Jantar Mantar?” Das said in a post on X. Read more: CJP opposes denotifying Jantar Mantar as protest site, condemns the move and cites rights, amid Delhi police designating alternative locations.

The Delhi High Court today asked the city police to file a status report in relation to civil rights activist Mohammad Wasiq Nadeem Khan’s allegation that he was recently illegally detained to stop him from attending a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma issued notice on Mr. Khan’s petition, which also alleged constant surveillance and phone calls from police, and questioned the police’s counsel on the conduct of the police personnel. Although the bench acknowledged that the police have the right to deny permission for holding a protest, it orally questioned during the hearing, “How can you enter the house of this man? You have your right to conduct your duty (but) how can you do it in such a way? Where is your cause to confine him?” -PTI

Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has denied any political vendetta behind the state government’s decision to order a Vigilance probe into allegations linked to a road project involving CEC Gyanesh Kumar when he was state PWD secretary two decades ago. Mr. Satheesan’s comments came amid intense protests in Delhi and other parts of the country, led by the Congress, demanding the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner over alleged irregularities in the electoral process in light of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. “It is not political. There is no political vendetta,” Mr. Satheesan said in a recent interview with PTI Videos. -PTI

96879cd5-ef1a-4efb-94db-878a13135b95.jpg Lawyers make their way to join the protest March led by Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on October 12, 2026. Photo credit: Sandeep Phukan

Police form a row before the Congress protestors at Barakhamba intersection, Delhi. - WhatsApp Image 2026-10-12 at 2.24.13 PM.jpeg

Why is Narendra Modi scared of Jantar Mantar, asks CJP’s Saurav Das on Jantar Mantar being denotified as designated protest site. We don’t accept this arbitrary decision; it’s an assault on people’s right to protest, he says.

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke on Monday alleged that Delhi police subjected him and his family to “mental torture”, adding that his kin and lawyer were unaware about his whereabouts during detention on October 10 ahead of the outfit’s stir at Jantar Mantar. Mr. Dipke, who was in Santuk Pimpri in Hingoli after the passing away of his grandmother a couple of days ago, told reporters he was detained from the aircraft when his flight landed in Delhi and that the police did not inform his parents or lawyers about his whereabouts. - PTI

“Three new venues viz Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground, East Delhi have been designated as new venues for organizing protest/demonstrations,” the police said in a statement. Jantar Mantar no longer legal protest site; three alternative sites designated by Delhi Police Delhi Police de-notifies Jantar Mantar as protest site; designates Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground, East Delhi, with new SOP forthcoming.

Democratic activities must take place smoothly, but there should be no obstruction in the functioning of the Supreme Court or movement of lawyers, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said on Monday after agreeing to hear pleas, including one filed by the SCBA over difficulties faced by lawyers amid protests. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of the submissions made by senior advocate and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Pradeep Rai, who highlighted the issues arising from the protests. “Democratic activities must take place smoothly, but there should be no obstruction to the functioning of the Supreme Court or movement of lawyers, court staff and litigants,” the CJI said. -PTI

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant today said that every lawyer has the right to participate in peaceful protests at designated locations. The observations were made when a bench comprising the CJI and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana was told by senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan that lawyers were detained and that there were instances of “police excesses” during demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission. The bench agreed to list the matter for hearing tomorrow. -PTI

The Delhi High Court today granted time till October 13 to the city police to respond to a plea of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) seeking permission to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise. At the outset, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma, representing Delhi Police, told Justice Amit Mahajan that he will take instructions on the issue and inform the court tomorrow Noting the statement of the ASG, the court then listed the matter for hearing tomorrow. -PTI