The Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP), the students' wing of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), announced on Tuesday, 6 October that it will lead a protest march to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 10 October, demanding the resignation and prosecution of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The march adds fresh momentum to a widening opposition campaign against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged procedural irregularities.

What Triggered the Protests

CEC Kumar has come under sustained fire following a media report claiming that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vijay Joshi had 'objected on record' to several decisions taken by the ECI, allegedly without their knowledge. The dispute centres specifically on the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls — a process critics argue was pushed through unilaterally. Demands from protest groups include the CEC's resignation, his prosecution, the withdrawal of the SIR, and comprehensive structural reforms within the ECI.

What ASAP Said

Eeshna Gupta, Co-in-charge of ASAP, said in a post on social media platform X: 'Across the country, thousands are raising their voices against the functioning of the Election Commission, demanding the resignation and prosecution of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, withdrawal of the SIR, and comprehensive reforms to the ECI.'

Gupta further noted: 'Despite repeated instances of police action, manhandling and sexual assault against protesters and journalists, the movement for democratic accountability continues to grow. On October 10, ASAP will march to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi alongside student organisations, democratic groups, and individuals united around these demands.'

The organisation's statement described the nationwide protests as reflecting 'growing public concern' over the ECI's functioning, with a call for 'democratic organisations, student groups, and individuals committed to constitutional values' to join the march.

Opposition Escalation on the Same Day

Earlier on Tuesday, members of the Opposition INDIA bloc launched their own protest march towards the ECI headquarters in New Delhi, also demanding the CEC's resignation. Security personnel stopped the opposition MPs midway, preventing them from reaching the commission's offices. The incident drew sharp criticism from opposition parties who accused the administration of suppressing democratic dissent.

A Movement Building Across Groups

This is not the first such demonstration. Last week, AAP and several left-wing student organisations — including the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Students' Association (AISA) — staged a protest against the CEC at Jantar Mantar; several participants were reportedly detained by police. The 10 October march by ASAP signals an intent to broaden the coalition beyond party-affiliated groups to include independent student bodies and civic organisations. Notably, this convergence of AAP-affiliated and left-leaning student groups under a shared demand is itself an unusual display of cross-ideological solidarity in campus politics.

What Comes Next

With the 10 October march set to draw multiple student and democratic organisations to Jantar Mantar, the political pressure on the ECI is expected to intensify. The ECI and the government have not yet publicly responded to the specific allegations raised by the two dissenting election commissioners. How authorities handle the planned march — particularly in light of last week's detentions — will be closely watched by civil society and opposition parties alike.