Gyanesh Kumar Row: CJP Seeks Fresh Protest Date, Opposition Moves To Supreme Court
New Delhi, 12th October 2026: Protests against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar continued in Delhi on Monday, October 12, with the Congress-led Opposition planning a march to the Supreme Court and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) seeking permission for another demonstration. The protests have intensified over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands for Kumar’s resignation.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi called on Opposition parties, students and civil society organisations to join the march and submit a memorandum to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant. The demands include an end to alleged ‘vote chori’, a halt to the SIR exercise and Kumar’s resignation. However, the CJI declined the request for a meeting, stating that the matter was already under judicial consideration and should be pursued through legal proceedings.
The CJP, meanwhile, said its leaders would approach Delhi Police to seek a date for a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar. Co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka warned that the party would announce its own protest programme if the police failed to provide a date within 24 hours.
The developments follow a security crackdown over the weekend, when hundreds of demonstrators were detained during protests across the national capital. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke accused Delhi Police of using force against protesters, journalists and parliamentarians. Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas also alleged that he was assaulted during the police action. CJP leaders have vowed to continue their campaign.
Security was tightened across central Delhi on Monday, with six metro stations — Patel Chowk, Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat and Barakhamba Road — scheduled to remain closed until 4 pm. Traffic restrictions and diversions were also imposed across several stretches.
The controversy centres on the SIR exercise, during which around 130 million names were reportedly removed from electoral rolls, including those of deceased voters, people who had relocated and individuals who could not be traced. Opposition parties allege that the deletions disproportionately affect Muslim and other minority voters, a charge denied by the Election Commission and the BJP.
In a parallel political development, the Congress-led government in Kerala is set to move a resolution in the state Assembly seeking Kumar’s removal, restoration of eligible voters’ names and changes to the selection process for Election Commissioners.
