Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has declined a request from Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge to meet on Monday over alleged “vote chori”, electoral-roll revision and demands for CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi/ October 11: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has declined a request from Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for a meeting on Monday to discuss allegations of “vote chori”, sources confirmed on Sunday night.
The two leaders had sought an appointment between 4 pm and 5 pm to submit a memorandum raising concerns over alleged electoral irregularities. According to a source, a response was sent to their official email addresses informing them that the CJI would not be able to meet them. No reason was given for the decision.
The development comes on the eve of an INDIA bloc-backed march to the Supreme Court, with the Congress calling the mobilisation “Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy.” The protest is scheduled to begin at 1.30 pm, with supporters asked to assemble at the Connaught Place–Barakhamba Road junction.
The opposition’s demands include an end to alleged “vote chori”, the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a return to paper ballots.
Announcing the march in a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said it would bring together people across party, gender, caste, community and state boundaries in defence of democracy and the Constitution.
READ: Delhi Police Makes Mockery of SC Order, Continues Crackdown on Protesters
“Yesterday, the nation’s young came out in Delhi to peacefully protest. They came with love in their hearts, not hatred or anger. They were beaten, both by cops and BJP goons. This is not the India we want,” Gandhi wrote.
“Tomorrow, we will march to the Supreme Court as Indians, united beyond party, gender, caste, community and state,” he added, inviting opposition parties, youth organisations and civil society groups to join the mobilisation.
Speaking in Bengaluru earlier on Sunday, Kharge said he and Gandhi had requested the CJI’s time to present their concerns over alleged electoral irregularities.
Yesterday, the nation’s young came out in Delhi to peacefully protest. They came with love in their hearts, not hatred or anger. They were beaten, both by cops and BJP goons.
This is not the India we want.
Tomorrow, we will march to the Supreme Court as Indians, united beyond party, gender, caste, community and state.
Youth, all opposition parties, civil society groups, all those who believe in democracy and stand by the Constitution of India, will walk with us.
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.
Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Ajit Doval and Mohan Bhagwat cannot silence India’s voice. These cowards cannot intimidate us. They will have to step aside.
We will march together, with love, brotherhood and patriotism.
Daro mat.
Tomorrow, all of India will march to the Supreme Court.
कल दिल्ली में देश का युवा शांतिपूर्ण विरोध के लिए सड़कों पर उतरा। उनके दिलों में नफ़रत या गुस्सा नहीं, मोहब्बत थी। लेकिन उन्हें पुलिस और BJP के गुंडों, दोनों ने पीटा।
ऐसा भारत हम नहीं चाहते।
कल, सोमवार 12 अक्टूबर को, हम भारतीय होने के नाते सुप्रीम कोर्ट तक मार्च करेंगे। पार्टी, महिला-पुरुष, जाति, समुदाय और राज्य की हर दीवार से ऊपर उठकर, हम सब एक साथ चलेंगे।
देश का युवा, तमाम विपक्षी दल, सिविल सोसाइटी और लोकतंत्र में विश्वास रखने वाले, भारत के संविधान के साथ खड़े सभी लोग हमारे साथ चलेंगे।
हम देश की ओर से मुख्य न्यायाधीश को एक ज्ञापन सौंपेंगे। हमारी माँग है – वोट चोरी बंद हो, SIR पर रोक लगे और ज्ञानेश कुमार इस्तीफ़ा दें।
नरेंद्र मोदी, अमित शाह, अजित डोभाल और मोहन भागवत भारत की आवाज़ को दबा नहीं सकते। ये कायर हमें डरा नहीं सकते। इन्हें पीछे हटना ही होगा।
हम सब साथ चलेंगे – मोहब्बत, भाईचारे और देशभक्ति के साथ।डरो मत।
कल पूरा भारत सुप्रीम कोर्ट तक मार्च करेगा।
#ChaloDilli
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 11, 2026
“We have sought a time between 4 and 5 pm. We will also apprise him, as we cannot demand. Only with folded hands, we can request him,” Kharge said.
He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of creating political turmoil across the country, alleging that an undeclared Emergency was being imposed.
The proposed march follows an INDIA bloc demonstration on Friday, when opposition leaders marched from Parliament to Vijay Chowk and submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu.
Kharge has also criticised the heavy police deployment and detentions during the weekend’s youth-led protests in Delhi, describing the government’s response as evidence of its apprehension about the growing agitation.
The opposition’s decision to proceed with the march despite the CJI’s refusal to grant a meeting sets the stage for a fresh confrontation over electoral integrity, the SIR exercise and the role of constitutional institutions.
The allegations of electoral manipulation remain contested. The opposition has demanded institutional intervention and accountability, while its planned march is expected to intensify the political debate over the Election Commission and the credibility of electoral processes.
