Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday claimed that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had been sending him messages. Asked if Kumar had contacted him, Gandhi said, “Messages aate hai” and added that the CEC was watching his press conference. He told Kumar to “turn approver” and resign, claiming that others were behind the alleged wrongdoing. Gandhi also said around 200 government officers were in touch with the opposition and sharing information. INDIA bloc leaders planned to march to the Supreme Court to protest alleged vote theft and file a petition against Kumar.  

Opposition parties are scheduled to march to the Supreme Court on Monday over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Congress has named the demonstration “Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy”, with participants expected to gather at the Connaught Place–Barakhamba Road junction at 1:30 pm. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has declined a meeting requested by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, who sought to submit a memorandum between 4 pm and 5 pm. Their demands include ending alleged “vote chori”, CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, halting SIR and restoring paper ballots. The CJI’s office cited the matter’s pending judicial proceedings and said the leaders could file a petition. (PC: X)

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has declined to meet Opposition leaders on Monday over concerns about electoral roll revision and the Election Commission’s functioning, citing judicial propriety and pending cases before the Supreme Court. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi had sought a meeting between 4 pm and 5 pm to raise concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, police action against protesters and the appointment process for election commissioners. The Opposition plans to march towards the Supreme Court on Monday, demanding action over alleged electoral irregularities and the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. (PC: HT)

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Ajinkya Shinde on Saturday announced daily protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s removal following a police crackdown in Delhi. “Every day, there will be marches to Jantar Mantar from now on, until Gyanesh Kumar is sacked as CEC,” Shinde said.   The announcement came after Delhi Police detained over 4,000 protesters during demonstrations near Jantar Mantar, according to Hindustan Times. CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were also detained after arriving in the capital. Opposition leaders, including Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, were detained while attempting to join protests over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls. 

The INDIA bloc will hold a major protest in Delhi on October 12 against alleged irregularities in the electoral roll revision process. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has decided to stay in the capital and join the protest. She cancelled her planned return to Kolkata after being detained by Delhi Police on Saturday. The crackdown came during protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police also detained CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Meanwhile, BJP leader Sambit Patra criticised Rahul Gandhi over his remarks about President Droupadi Murmu.  

BJP national spokesperson and MP Sambit Patra on October 10, 2026, criticised the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, asserting that the demonstration did not represent India’s broader mood. He accused the protesters of attempting to create unrest and described the agitation as a “flop show.” Patra maintained that India was progressing peacefully under what he termed good governance. The protest targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with demonstrators demanding his resignation over alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions. Authorities detained several protesters and leaders amid extensive security restrictions across Delhi. (PC: ANI)

INDIA bloc leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reached Rajghat on Thursday to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The opposition has been demanding his resignation over alleged irregularities linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Earlier, Kharge hosted an INDIA bloc lunch meeting in Delhi’s Connaught Place, attended by several opposition leaders. Security was tightened across central Delhi, with around 5,000 police personnel deployed and several roads barricaded. The protests come a day after nearly 300 opposition MPs marched towards Akashvani Bhavan. Meanwhile, Gyanesh Kumar’s Z+ security cover was strengthened amid the protests. (PC: HT)

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the Delhi Police over an FIR registered against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others following an INDIA bloc protest. Yadav questioned the police action, saying, “Delhi Police has no work except registering FIRs.” The FIR was filed over the alleged unauthorised entry of protesters into Akashvani Bhawan after their march towards the Election Commission was stopped. Opposition MPs were protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations concerning electoral roll revisions. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among those detained during the protest, which involved several Opposition leaders. (PC: Deccan Herald)

Veteran actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty has been appointed as an advisor to the West Bengal government, with the rank of a Cabinet Minister. He will advise the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, which is headed by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The announcement was made during an event marking the centenary celebrations of legendary Bengali actor Uttam Kumar. Chakraborty, a prominent BJP campaigner during the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, has now taken on a formal role in the state administration. His appointment comes as the government plans to expand film and cultural infrastructure and strengthen Bengal’s position as a major cultural centre. (PC: India Today)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was released on Wednesday night after being briefly detained during an Opposition protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several other INDIA bloc leaders were also detained as police stopped their buses while they were heading to Jantar Mantar. The Opposition is demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities linked to the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision exercise. Rahul and Priyanka were taken to separate police facilities and released shortly after 8 pm. The protest followed a lunch meeting hosted by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, where Opposition parties discussed continuing their campaign against the CEC. (PC: HT)