CJI Surya Kant should not act like BJP member, says Karnataka Congress chief
Synopsis
The INDIA bloc's march to the Supreme Court on 12 October turned confrontational before it began — the CJI declined to meet bloc leaders, prompting Karnataka Congress chief B. K. Hariprasad to publicly accuse CJI Surya Kant of behaving like a BJP member. With Rahul Gandhi leading the march and a charter of demands already delivered to the President, the Opposition's campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR process is rapidly escalating.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka Congress President B.
Hariprasad on 12 October 2026 said CJI Surya Kant should not behave like a BJP member.
CJI Surya Kant declined a meeting with INDIA bloc leaders, advising them to approach the court via petition.
The INDIA bloc marched to the Supreme Court demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar .
Rahul Gandhi led the march, calling it a movement 'of all Indians' — not a party-political protest.
The Opposition submitted a four-point charter of demands on electoral reforms to President Droupadi Murmu the previous Friday.
Congress MP Gaddam Vamsi Krishna alleged the SIR process was designed to remove first-time and Gen Z voters from electoral rolls.
Karnataka Congress President B. K. Hariprasad on Monday, 12 October declared that Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant should not conduct himself like a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but must ensure that justice is delivered to every citizen. The remarks came as the INDIA bloc of Opposition parties marched to the Supreme Court in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls.
CJI Declines to Meet INDIA Bloc Leaders
Ahead of the march, leaders of the INDIA bloc had requested a meeting with the CJI. However, CJI Surya Kant declined the request, reportedly advising them to approach the court through a formal petition instead. It was in this context that Hariprasad levelled his criticism. 'The CJI should not behave like a Bharatiya Janata Party member. He is a CJI of the Supreme Court; he should give justice to everyone,' Hariprasad said.
What the INDIA Bloc Is Demanding
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, led the march, framing it as 'not of a political party, but of all Indians.' The Congress-led alliance has demanded the scrapping of the SIR process, which it alleges was designed to delete names of new and first-time voters from electoral rolls — a charge the ruling BJP has not directly addressed. Congress MP Gaddam Vamsi Krishna went further, accusing the BJP of targeting young voters. 'It clearly shows that the BJP is against Gen Z and the youth of this country. They are unable to win the votes of first-time voters. That is why they have introduced Form 6. SIR was brought in to delete the names of new voters. We will fight against this,' Krishna said.
Broader Opposition Coalition
Congress MP Praveen Chakravarty welcomed the participation of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in the protests, stating that all those who believe in a constitutional India are welcome to join. 'CJP is welcome to protest. I think all of us are fighting for the same issue,' Chakravarty said. Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal added that the demonstrations would continue 'until Gyanesh Kumar leaves office and the faces hiding behind him are exposed.'
Charter of Demands and Escalating Pressure
This comes amid a broader campaign by the Opposition, which last Friday submitted a charter of four demands to President Droupadi Murmu, focused on electoral reforms and alleged vote manipulation. Rahul Gandhi has maintained that the SIR exercise has directly benefited the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre — a claim the ruling party contests. Notably, Monday's march is part of a growing series of coordinated Opposition actions targeting the Election Commission of India (ECI), marking a significant escalation in the political confrontation over electoral integrity ahead of upcoming state polls.
Point of View
It risks shifting the narrative from the substantive SIR controversy to the propriety of attacking judicial independence. The INDIA bloc's real challenge is institutional: framing a legal dispute as a street protest is politically energising but procedurally weak, and the CJI's redirect to 'file a petition' undercuts the march's optics without engaging the substance. The SIR controversy itself — touching first-time voter enrolment and electoral roll integrity — deserves rigorous scrutiny; burying it under a judicial spat may actually slow the accountability it demands.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Karnataka Congress chief B. K. Hariprasad criticise CJI Surya Kant?
Hariprasad criticised CJI Surya Kant after the Chief Justice declined to meet INDIA bloc leaders ahead of their march to the Supreme Court on 12 October 2026, advising them to approach the court through a formal petition instead. Hariprasad said the CJI should not behave like a BJP member and must deliver justice to all citizens.
What is the INDIA bloc demanding with its Supreme Court march?
The INDIA bloc is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls, which the Opposition alleges is being used to delete names of new and first-time voters. The bloc also submitted a four-point charter of electoral-reform demands to President Droupadi Murmu on the preceding Friday.
What is the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is an exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to review and update electoral rolls. The INDIA bloc and Congress allege that the SIR has been used to remove names of young and first-time voters, benefiting the ruling BJP — a charge the government contests.
Who led the INDIA bloc march to the Supreme Court?
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, led the march, framing it as a movement 'of all Indians' rather than a party-political protest. He has alleged that the Narendra Modi-led government has benefited from the SIR process.
Who else joined the protests against the Election Commission?
Leaders from across the INDIA bloc participated, including Congress MPs Praveen Chakravarty and Gaddam Vamsi Krishna, and Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal. The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) also joined the agitation; Chakravarty said all those who believe in a constitutional India are welcome to protest.
