Opposition Leaders Gather at Rahul Gandhis Residence to Demand Election Commission Chiefs Resignation

New Delhi, October 14: Leaders of the India alliance convened at Rahul Gandhi’s residence on Tuesday evening to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list and to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The meeting, held at Gandhi’s home on Sunheri Bagh Road, lasted approximately two hours. Following the meeting, the leaders addressed the media together.

Rahul Gandhi stated that securing Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation is their mission. He emphasized that the movement will continue, regardless of whether it takes one day, one year, or two years. He affirmed that the opposition will fight until democratic processes are restored.

This was the sixth meeting of opposition leaders in just eight days, attended by prominent figures such as Supriya Sule, D. Raja, Tejashwi Yadav, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Congress MP K. Suresh. M.A. Baby, General Secretary of CPI(M), remarked that the BJP is undermining votes, protest spaces, and democracy itself.

Key Points from Rahul Gandhi’s Press Conference

The government has decided that Jantar Mantar cannot be used for democratic expression. We will challenge this mindset.
Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Gyanesh Kumar, and others must understand that evading accountability by harming the Constitution is not easy. They will face justice.
Democracy in the country has been destroyed. The electoral system has been dismantled, and the Constitution has been disregarded.
This struggle is not just for us, but for the people of India and their future. We will fight together to restore democratic processes.
Regardless of whether any institution fulfills its role, political opposition and public struggle will continue, and ultimately, victory will be ours.

Supreme Court Petition Not Listed on the Same Day

The meeting coincided with the day when the opposition’s petition against the SIR was not listed for hearing in the Supreme Court. The registry cited about 14 procedural deficiencies in the petition that have not yet been addressed. Chief Justice Surya Kant’s bench informed the petitioners’ lawyer that all cases would be listed as soon as the deficiencies are rectified.

This petition was filed following a march to the Supreme Court on October 12. It includes 11 leaders from 10 parties as petitioners. The petition demands the formation of an independent committee, chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge, to audit the names removed or altered from the voter list during the SIR.

Timeline of Events Over Two Weeks

Date	Event
September 27	Ashok Gehlot demands the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
September 28-29	Protests by 29 district Congress committees in Rajasthan; several leaders detained.
October 5	Supreme Court denies immediate suspension of Gyanesh Kumar.
October 6	240 MPs led by Rahul Gandhi request a meeting with the Election Commission.
October 7	Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi stopped before reaching Jantar Mantar.
October 8	India alliance protests at Jaipur Collectorate Circle.
October 9	India alliance submits a memorandum to the President.
October 11	Delhi Police removes Jantar Mantar from the list of protest sites.
October 12	March to the Supreme Court and petition filed; CJI disagrees with meeting request.
October 13	Petition not listed; meeting at Rahul Gandhi’s residence in the evening.

Demand for Resignation Previously Rejected in Parliament

The process for removing the Chief Election Commissioner is outlined in Article 324(5) of the Constitution. He can be removed in the same manner as a Supreme Court judge, which requires a proposal passed by a special majority in both Houses of Parliament, followed by an order from the President.

The opposition had previously attempted this route in April 2026. At that time, opposition MPs indicated plans to introduce a proposal for Gyanesh Kumar’s removal in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. However, the Chairpersons of both houses, C.P. Radhakrishnan and Om Birla, rejected these notices, stating that the decision was made after consideration of the information and relevant points.

On October 5, the Supreme Court also denied the immediate suspension of Gyanesh Kumar and sought responses from the Election Commission regarding decisions related to the SIR.

Jantar Mantar No Longer a Protest Site

Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of Jantar Mantar during the press conference, which stems from a two-day-old directive. On October 11, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued a standing order that de-notified Jantar Mantar as a protest site.

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Kuldeep Singh Chundawat: My name is Kuldeep Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.