Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and others during the INDIA bloc's protest march in New Delhi on Monday. | Photo Credit: ANI

Delhi witnessed another day of protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday, with Rahul Gandhi leading the INDIA bloc march towards the Supreme Court and Delhi Police withdrawing Jantar Mantar’s status as a designated protest site. 

The Opposition is demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a halt to the exercise. Gandhi accused the government of protecting the CEC and questioned the heavy security deployment across the Capital. 

The Congress had also sought a meeting with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to submit a memorandum on its concerns, but the CJI declined, citing the pendency of related matters before the court and judicial propriety. The Opposition subsequently filed a petition later in the day against ECI over SIR process. 

The march began from the Connaught Place–Barakhamba Road junction at around 1.30 pm, with Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders seeking to take their protest to the Supreme Court. Gandhi claimed that around 200 government officers, including officials from the Enforcement Directorate, CBI and Ministry of External Affairs, were sharing information with the Opposition. 

He urged the CEC to resign and “turn approver”, alleging that Kumar was not the person behind the larger conspiracy he claimed was responsible for electoral irregularities. Gandhi also said the agitation was a fight to protect the Constitution and that the Opposition would continue its campaign until the electoral system was reformed.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said he received the INDIA bloc’s letter seeking a meeting and responded the same night and wrote a letter to Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, explaining his reasons and expressing his inability to meet the opposition delegation.

CJI also declined their request for an appointment to submit a memorandum on issues including the Election Commission, alleged arbitrary arrests of students, closure of metro stations and cancellation of trains, stating that the matters are already pending before the Supreme Court.

Jantar Mantar no longer a protest site

In another significant development, Delhi Police on Monday denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest venue and named three alternative sites for demonstrations: Ramlila Ground in central Delhi, Burari Ground in north Delhi and CBD Ground in east Delhi. 

A standing order issued by Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar on October 11 said the decision followed recommendations of a committee constituted by the Union Home Ministry to examine alternative venues for protests. Revised standard operating procedures for organising demonstrations at the three sites are to be issued separately. The decision came after days of protests, heavy police deployment and mass detentions in central Delhi. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had been mobilising protesters against the CEC, criticised the move, calling it an assault on the right to peaceful assembly. CJP representatives have also sought permission and a date for their next demonstration, giving the police 24 hours to respond.

The developments followed a weekend of intense restrictions across the Capital, including the closure of Metro station gates, traffic diversions and the detention of thousands of protesters trying to reach Jantar Mantar. 

On Monday, six Metro stations were again affected by security restrictions as police barricaded key roads in central Delhi. The Opposition’s march and the government’s decision to relocate designated protest venues have brought the question of access to public spaces for demonstrations to the centre of the continuing confrontation.

Published on October 12, 2026