Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday announced that he would lead a march to the Supreme Court on Monday, October 12, calling on opposition parties, civil society groups, youth and citizens to join the protest against alleged vote theft and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

In a post on X, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said the participants would submit a memorandum to the Chief Justice of India on behalf of the nation, with three demands: an end to alleged vote chori, a halt to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and Kumar’s resignation.

The message to supporters

Referring to Saturday’s demonstrations in Delhi, Gandhi alleged that police personnel and BJP workers had beaten protesters who had gathered peacefully. This is not the India we want, he said, adding that the demonstrators had come out with love in their hearts, not hatred or anger.

Gandhi named Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in his post, alleging they could not silence the public’s voice. He urged people not to fear, saying the participants would march together with love, brotherhood and patriotism, and that all of India would march to the Supreme Court.

The CJP protest backdrop

The announcement came amid the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest against the Election Commission and Kumar over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls. The agitation continued for a second day on Sunday, with police detaining demonstrators at several locations in Delhi after thousands were detained on Saturday.

Among those detained on Saturday were opposition leaders and activists including AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, student leader Neha Bora, Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, as demonstrators attempted to reach Jantar Mantar. On Sunday, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas and All India Students’ Association president Neha Bora were among those detained at Connaught Place.

What lies ahead

The CJP has said it will continue its agitation, accusing the authorities of using security measures to prevent people from protesting against the Chief Election Commissioner. With Gandhi’s march announced and the Supreme Court having directed that peaceful protesters must not be illegally detained, Monday’s demonstration is set to be the largest show of strength yet in the agitation.