Two First Information Reports (FIRs) have been lodged in Delhi against leaders of the INDIA bloc following their protest march to the Supreme Court. The demonstration, led by prominent figures including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, challenged the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and raised allegations of widespread poll irregularities, dubbed 'vote chori' (vote theft).
Protest Follows CJI's Meeting Refusal
The opposition's march took place a day after the Chief Justice of India (CJI) declined a request for a meeting with two Leaders of Opposition, stating the matter was sub judice. Despite the CJI's earlier public remarks about the Supreme Court's doors being open to all, the direct meeting was not granted, prompting the bloc's decision to file a joint petition.
Petition Names Election Commission Officials
The petition, submitted by numerous INDIA bloc leaders, specifically named the Election Commission of India (ECI), Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi as parties. It highlighted concerns over alleged large-scale voter deletions and other irregularities identified during the electoral roll revision exercise.
Kharge later stated on X, "The fight against vote theft will continue. INDIA’s battle will go on. The sea of people stands witness, Modi-Shah’s accountability will be fixed for sure!"
Demands for Accountability and Electoral Reform
During the protest, opposition leaders articulated a series of demands, including an end to 'vote chori', the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, an immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and a return to the paper ballot format for elections. As police barricades initially halted their advance on Bhagwan Dass Road, several leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, climbed atop a vehicle to continue the procession towards the court amidst anti-government slogans.
Rahul Gandhi's Direct Challenge to CEC
At a press conference preceding the march, Rahul Gandhi directly addressed CEC Gyanesh Kumar, urging him to "turn approver" and resign. Gandhi asserted that Kumar was not the "mind behind the mistake" but implied larger forces were at play, claiming that 200 government officers were in contact with the opposition, sharing information. He also predicted Kumar would "not survive as CEC."
Political Reactions and Escalation
The protest drew sharp criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan dismissing the march as "pure theatrics" and accusing the Congress of aligning with various forces for power. Conversely, the Congress party viewed the Delhi Police's recent denotification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site as a sign of "panic." With the registration of two FIRs, the political contention over electoral roll revision and 'vote chori' allegations has now formally moved from public demonstrations to the legal arena of the Supreme Court.