Watch video: Massive protest launched by INDIA bloc from Barakhamba Road to Supreme Court, demand CEC's resignation

Leaders of the INDIA bloc on Monday stepped up their protest against alleged electoral irregularities with Opposition MPs gathering in the national capital to challenge the Election Commissions functioning and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner CEC Gyanesh Kumar reported the ANIThe protest centres on alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls and concerns over the functioning of constitutional institutions Several Opposition leaders accused the authorities of failing to protect democratic principles and citizens voting rightsCongress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the call for unity had come from Rahul Gandhi Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha as the INDIA bloc sought to launch a broader movementldquoWe are gathering the people to start a movementrdquo Chowdhury said ldquoRahul Gandhi summoned everyone to walk unitedly according to the ANIOpposition questions constitutional institutionsCongress MP Gaddam Vamsi Krishna alleged that constitutional institutions were not responding favourably to the Oppositions concernsldquoWe are trying to reach all constitutional bodies but they are not favouring or upholding the Constitutionrdquo he said the news agency reportedLIVE Chalo Delhi March For Democracy Barakhamba Road to Supreme Court New Delhi httpstcoKaXt3KX2ZBmdash Congress INCIndia October 12 2026Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi described the protest as a longterm struggle saying it was a peoples movement that would continue beyond the immediate political developmentsldquoThis is the peoples battle and it will continuerdquo Nadvi saidSamajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad also stressed the importance of protecting democratic valuesldquoPublic is the top priority in democracy and we are going there to save democracyrdquo he saidRaja Warring accuses government of suppressing dissentCongress MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of using the Delhi Police to suppress Opposition protestsldquoIt is PM Modi and the police who are flaunting their power for us it is a fightrdquo it said as per the ANIHe also questioned why the Opposition was not being allowed to meet Gyanesh Kumar and alleged that the government was protecting the Chief Election Commissioner because of his actionsldquoThe Delhi Police is displaying its might on the orders of Amit Shah If we want to meet Gyanesh Kumar we should be allowed Why is the government protecting him Because he is working for themrdquo it alleged httpstco6TCHRcZTJwmdash Congress INCIndia October 12 2026He further claimed that people had begun to feel that the country was being betrayedThese remarks reflect the Oppositions allegations against the government and the Election CommissionINDIA bloc discusses next course of actionTrinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy said Opposition leaders were gathering at the Constitution Club and had yet to decide on their next course of action as per the ANIldquoIt is yet to be decided where we would march but everyone is gathering at the Constitution Clubrdquo Roy saidHe added that the leaders had taken note of the Supreme Court proceedings and would decide on their next stepsThe Oppositions protest comes amid demands for action over alleged irregularities in the SIR process and calls for greater accountability from the Election CommissionJantar Mantar denotified as protest siteThe demonstrations coincided with the Delhi Polices decision to denotify Jantar Mantar as a designated venue for protests and demonstrationsAccording to an official notice issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar Ramlila Ground Burari Ground and CBD Ground in east Delhi have been designated as alternative protest venuesWATCH Delhi A bus carrying Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and other leaders of the INDIA bloc ready to leave from the Constitution Club of India The alliance has called a march to the Supreme Court today They have also announced that they would file a petition before the apex court in connection with CEC Gyanesh Kumar matter and their allegations with respect to the SIR processmdash ANI ANI October 12 2026The Ministry of Home Affairs had constituted a committee to examine alternative locations where citizens could exercise their right to organise protests and demonstrations The decision to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of designated venues was taken based on the committees recommendationsThe police said a revised Standard Operating Procedure SOP for organising demonstrations at the three new venues would be issued separately The order partially modifies an earlier standing order dated April 28 2022The change comes amid heightened security in the national capital following calls for protests against alleged electoral irregularities and demands for the CECs resignationwith ANI inputs