Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that delegates from the opposition INDIA bloc intend to approach the Supreme Court on Monday, lodging a petition that names Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and raises the bloc's allegations of irregularities in the electoral process.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Congress party's Indira Bhawan headquarters, Gandhi called on the Chief Election Commissioner to step down and cooperate with investigators, framing the opposition's effort as one directed at the forces he described as operating behind the position rather than the officeholder alone. In separately attributed remarks, he conveyed that Gyanesh Kumar was under personal strain, and told him directly that his tenure in the role would not continue.
Gandhi further put forward the assertion that around 200 civil servants were passing along internal information to opposition figures. He noted that opposition had existed in earlier periods without spilling into public demonstrations, and told those gathered that the campaign would continue for as long as necessary — whether that span runs to days or stretches into years.
He urged demonstrators to hold firm and keep up their efforts, noting that meaningful change in a country takes far longer than a day or two, and drew on the imagery of a divine cosmic dance to characterise the ongoing protests — describing them as an open, all-encompassing movement that anyone was free to join.
Leaders of the INDIA bloc announced plans to converge on the Supreme Court on Monday as part of a "Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy" rally, after which they intend to place a petition before the bench. Leaders from opposition parties gathered at the Connaught Place–Barakhamba Road junction to begin the march, with one spokesperson noting that a letter had previously been sent to the Chief Justice of India. The group's directions called for filing a petition as the required form of submission.
INDIA alliance leaders announced plans to bring a formal petition before the Supreme Court over what they describe as electoral irregularities. Organisers called on residents to gather at Connaught Place and join a procession they described as standing in defence of democratic principles and constitutional rights.
Gandhi urged people unable to travel to Delhi to make their voices heard from wherever they were, posting on X with the hashtag "#ChaloDilli," and extended an open invitation to all Indians to join the effort — including those from the BJP — stating that anyone who believes the Constitution is under threat, regardless of party affiliation, is welcome to participate.
Those unable to attend in person were urged to gather outside the Supreme Court at 3 PM, when the petition filing was set to take place, and make their voices heard through a visible show of support. Gandhi urged the public to convey that the government's actions were unacceptable and would be resisted, while assuring people there was no reason to fear.
The Lok Sabha's Leader of Opposition described several simultaneous disputes, characterising one as a contest over public perception in which the administration stood on one side and the nation's children along with the broader population on the other, while expressing a desire for the country to hold confidence in its own resilience. He told the gathering that the country would not be intimidated by anyone, including Modi, and maintained that they were engaged across several contested areas, prevailing in each of them.
Gandhi described the physical barriers across the city as an "illusion," arguing that the mindset of Delhi's residents remained unrestrained, before going on to question why Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ordered the area sealed off, calling on him to demonstrate that the election outcome had not been manipulated.
The opposition leader in the Lok Sabha, invoking the Constitution as a foundational value, stated that young people across the country would continue their mobilisation until constitutional protections were upheld, the election commission's leadership changed, and the electoral process was reformed, adding that five individuals would be held accountable through legal proceedings. Five individuals face accusations of targeting the foundations and cultural identity of India.
He vowed that the movement would press on regardless of how long it takes, adding that documentation of Narendra Modi's plans is in their possession, and that the struggle is ultimately about defending the Constitution rather than centring on any individual — whether Rahul Gandhi or Modi himself. He stated that their role in the contest carries little weight, and that at stake are India's constitutional framework, the ability of its people to express themselves, and the direction the nation takes going forward.
His address reached out to opposition figures, party members, and youth, urging them to join what he framed as a broader contest over their own futures and sense of worth.
Calls for the top election official's resignation have been put forward by opposition parties, following a broadcast report indicating that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi placed formal objections on the record no fewer than 14 times across the preceding ten months, with most of those objections directed at decisions and orders concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Facing pushback from two of its own members, the Election Commission put forward the position that internal disagreement forms a routine part of institutional decision-making, and that its rulings carry full legal authority derived from established statutory processes.
Gandhi also raised the matter of restrictions put in place across Delhi, asking why the city's residents were being confined in that manner. Questions about why New Delhi's administration finds itself entangled in legal proceedings have drawn considerable public attention. Travellers heading toward Delhi reported finding their route blocked, with restrictions on bus and rail travel limiting passenger access.
He described the city as having taken on the appearance of a heavily guarded installation, contending that stationing roughly 30,000 officers across the road network served as a show of force by the administration to protect Gyanesh Kumar. "The more activity they generate in that direction, the more it stands to benefit us," he told reporters. He also asserted that officers within the force have raised concerns about directives to physically assault young people.
