Rahul Gandhi calls opposition march to Supreme Court on Monday over EVM, SIR concerns
Synopsis
Rahul Gandhi's call for a mass march to the Supreme Court on Monday is the opposition's boldest institutional escalation yet — taking its EVM and electoral roll grievances directly to the Chief Justice rather than the streets. With a memorandum in hand, the question is whether CJI Surya Kant agrees to meet, and what legal or political weight that encounter carries.
Key Takeaways
Rahul Gandhi released a social media video on 11 October 2026 urging people to join a march to the Supreme Court on Monday .
The march aims to submit a memorandum to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant demanding a halt to the SIR of electoral rolls and action on EVM concerns.
The opposition also demands the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar .
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has written to the CJI seeking an appointment between 4 pm and 5 pm on Monday .
Gandhi alleged that youth protesters in Delhi were beaten by police and ruling party workers the previous day — an allegation not independently verified.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday, 11 October 2026, released a video on social media urging citizens to join an opposition-led march to the Supreme Court of India on Monday. The march aims to submit a memorandum to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant demanding action against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, concerns over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
What Gandhi Said in the Video
'We will submit a memorandum to the Chief Justice on behalf of the nation, demanding an end to vote chori, halting of SIR and the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar,' Gandhi said in the video. He also urged participants not to be deterred: 'Don't be afraid. We will march together, with love, brotherhood and patriotism. Tomorrow, all of India will march to the Supreme Court.'
Gandhi drew a broad coalition for the march, saying, 'Youth, all opposition parties, civil society groups, all those who believe in democracy and stand by the Constitution of India, will walk with us.' He further alleged that the previous day's youth protest in Delhi had been met with force, claiming demonstrators 'were beaten, both by cops and BJP goons' — an allegation that has not been independently verified.
Kharge Writes to CJI Seeking Appointment
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge confirmed that opposition leaders had written to the Chief Justice seeking a meeting, with a time slot requested between 4 pm and 5 pm on Monday. 'I have written a letter, and Rahul has also written a letter. We have sought a time between 4 and 5 pm. Now, let us see. We will only request him with folded hands,' Kharge told reporters.
Kharge separately alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were 'creating an atmosphere of chaos in the country,' and questioned the large security deployment ahead of the march. The government has not publicly responded to these specific allegations.
Key Demands of the March
The opposition's memorandum to the CJI is expected to cover three primary demands: an end to what they term 'vote chori' (vote theft), suspension of the SIR process for electoral rolls, and the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Gandhi also named Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Ajit Doval, and Mohan Bhagwat in his address, saying they 'cannot silence India's voice.'
Political Context and What's Next
This comes amid a broader opposition offensive against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, centred on questions of electoral integrity. The SIR process — a special drive to revise voter rolls — has drawn criticism from multiple opposition parties who allege it could disenfranchise voters. The march represents one of the more direct opposition engagements with the judiciary on an electoral matter in recent years.
Whether the Supreme Court grants the requested appointment and how the CJI responds to the memorandum will shape the next phase of this political standoff. All eyes will be on New Delhi on Monday.
Point of View
Where the optics of a sitting CJI receiving or declining a mass memorandum carry real weight. Yet the demands themselves — removal of a constitutional appointee like the Chief Election Commissioner, and a halt to a statutory electoral roll revision — sit in contested legal territory. The allegation that peaceful protesters were beaten the previous day, if substantiated, adds a civil liberties dimension that could widen the march's appeal beyond the opposition's base. Whether this translates into judicial intervention or remains a high-profile political statement will depend entirely on how the Supreme Court responds to the appointment request.
NationPress
11 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are opposition parties marching to the Supreme Court on Monday?
Opposition parties, led by Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge , are marching to the Supreme Court on Monday, 12 October 2026, to submit a memorandum to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. Their key demands include halting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, addressing EVM concerns, and seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
What is the SIR of electoral rolls that the opposition objects to?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a drive conducted by the Election Commission of India to update and revise voter rolls. Opposition parties allege the process could disenfranchise voters and have demanded it be halted, though the Election Commission has defended such revisions as routine and legally mandated.
Who are the key opposition leaders involved in the march?
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge are leading the march. Gandhi said the coalition includes youth groups, all opposition parties, and civil society organisations that stand by the Constitution.
Has an appointment with the Chief Justice been confirmed?
As of Sunday, the appointment had not been confirmed. Congress President Kharge said he and Rahul Gandhi had both written to CJI Surya Kant seeking a meeting between 4 pm and 5 pm on Monday, adding, 'Now, let us see.'
What allegations did Rahul Gandhi make about the previous day's protest?
Gandhi alleged that youth who peacefully protested in Delhi on Saturday were beaten 'both by cops and BJP goons.' This allegation has not been independently verified, and the government had not publicly responded to it at the time of reporting.
