During a high-tea meeting convened by Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, had taken steps to reduce the autonomy of constitutional bodies. Speaking at a gathering following the meeting, Yadav contended that agencies including the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation, and the Income Tax Department had been deployed for political purposes.
Yadav separately alleged that the Election Commission of India under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had gone further than those agencies in serving partisan interests. Addressing Kumar directly, Yadav alleged that his conduct amounted to an attempt to undermine democratic processes, and described the actions as coordinated involvement by the BJP, Amit Shah, and Prime Minister Modi.
The group expressed a shared commitment to protecting democratic institutions, pledging to pursue that goal regardless of the costs involved. Yadav also argued that the central government's decision to remove Jantar Mantar's status as a designated protest venue reflected an underlying concern about public dissent, and separately alleged that Gyanesh Gupta had acted without independent judgment and would face consequences as a result. He described the decision as one driven by apprehension on the part of those who made it.
The venue for a planned demonstration was relocated away from Jantar Mantar — long associated with public protest activity in the capital — to Delhi's outer boundaries. Organisers attributed the shift to operational considerations, though differing interpretations of what prompted the change have been offered.
The region draws its identity from figures including Gandhi, Lohia, Bhagat Singh, and Karpoori Thakur, whose legacies remain part of its political and social fabric. Allegations have persisted that certain actors have been working to reduce the authority of constitutional bodies such as the ED, the CBI, and the Income Tax Department, with Yadav adding that the Election Commission, and Gyanesh Gupta in particular, had taken matters considerably further.
The RJD leader reiterated the party's commitment to maintaining Opposition unity, stating that the group intends to hold accountable those it believes were behind what it has described as a conspiracy, and vowed that the collective effort would continue until a favourable outcome is achieved. A political party statement named Modi, Gyanesh Gupta, and Amit Shah as individuals it alleged had a role in organising electoral fraud, claiming the three bear accountability for what it described as manipulation of the voting process.
Questions about responsibility for certain actions have been raised publicly, with those involved facing calls to provide a transparent account of what took place. Yadav stated that those responsible would face consequences, and expressed confidence that constitutional governance would be protected.
Kerala Minister Ramesh Chennithala stated that the INDIA alliance and the Congress party are aligned in their opposition to actions taken by both the central government and the Chief Election Commissioner, adding that the coalition intends to sustain its challenge on the grounds that Gyanesh Kumar has, in their view, undermined the integrity of the electoral process. The INDIA alliance, alongside the Congress party, has pledged to contest every stage of the process without conceding ground. Chennithala told those gathered that a shared resolve had taken hold across the group, with collective action against the conduct attributed to the central government — and to Gyanesh Kumar in particular — now the stated course ahead.
Chennithala noted that documents related to alleged wrongdoing during Gyanesh Kumar's time as PWD secretary in Kerala — approximately two decades ago — are being examined by the state's Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Vigilance Director, adding that he had received a formal application at the time concerning those matters. The documentation on file, he said, points to alleged participation in a range of irregular dealings. The state government of Kerala has announced plans to examine the matter in depth, with officials indicating that a formal position on the allegations surrounding Gyanesh Kumar will be put forward in the days ahead.
Chennithala noted that the matter had been placed before the Director and Kerala's Anti-Corruption Bureau. Opposition leaders connected to Congress gathered at Rahul Gandhi's residence to map out the next phase of their push against the central government, party figures said.
