Opposition leaders march to Supreme Court and file joint plea seeking CEC removal

Opposition parties led by the Congress brought thousands of workers and supporters to the streets of Delhi for a march to the Supreme Court on Monday. Leaders are demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls. Senior Opposition leaders filed a joint petition at the apex court during the protest.

INDIA Bloc Unity

The Chalo Delhi protest showed major Opposition unity with top leaders taking part, including Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikanjun Kharge, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, TMC's Mamata Banerjee, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, and CPM's M A Baby. The march followed days of street protests, including a CJP protest on Saturday where thousands were detained by Delhi Police. Opposition leaders also faced an unsuccessful bid to meet Chief Justice of India Surya Kant after meeting President Droupadi Murmu, as the CJI declined the meeting because the issues are sub judice.

Petition and Demands

Apart from Kharge, leaders who signed the petition include TMC MP Saugata Roy, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, NCP-SC's Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena-UBT's Sanjay Raut, CPI's D Raja, JMM MP Mahua Majhi, M A Baby, and IUML's E T Mohammed Basheer. Rahul Gandhi asked the CEC to resign and turn approver, claiming 200 government officers are in touch with his side. Gandhi also referred to an Indian Express investigation from September 23 showing two Election Commissioners objected on record 14 times in 10 months to steps taken under the CEC.

Context

Such high-profile joint political marches to the country's highest court are rare and signal a major escalation in political tensions between the ruling administration and opposition parties. Article 32 of the Indian Constitution allows citizens to approach the Supreme Court directly for the enforcement of fundamental rights. The Supreme Court operates as an independent judicial body separate from the executive and administrative branches of government.