‘Government Made a Grave Mistake by Protecting CEC’: Rahul Gandhi Questions Delhi Security Curbs

October 12, 2026

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the Narendra Modi-led government of protecting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar amid the Opposition’s “vote chori” allegations. Questioning the extensive security restrictions imposed in Delhi ahead of the INDIA bloc’s planned march towards the Supreme Court, Gandhi claimed that the government had made a “grave mistake” by shielding the CEC.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, Gandhi said protests against Kumar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) and alleged electoral irregularities had been continuing in the national capital for several days. He described the demonstrations as part of a wider resistance movement that had been building over several years.

Gandhi’s remarks came ahead of the INDIA bloc’s planned march to the Supreme Court to raise concerns over electoral fairness, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the demand for Kumar’s resignation.

Rahul Gandhi Questions Heavy Security Deployment in Delhi

Criticising the security arrangements ahead of the Opposition’s demonstration, Gandhi questioned why the national capital had been placed under such restrictions. He claimed that people were being prevented from reaching Delhi and alleged that passengers were being asked to get off trains and buses.

Gandhi also claimed that around 20,000 to 30,000 police personnel had been deployed across the city, describing Delhi as having been turned into a fortress.

“You might think this is a show of power, but our strategy is different,” Gandhi said, arguing that the government’s decision to protect Kumar would ultimately lead the Opposition to question those he believes are controlling the CEC.

The Congress leader maintained that the Opposition would continue its campaign against alleged electoral irregularities despite the security restrictions.

Gandhi Claims Police Personnel Are Unhappy With Protest Crackdown

Gandhi further claimed that police personnel were disturbed by the instructions they had received during the handling of protests. He alleged that questions were being raised within the Union Home Ministry, Delhi Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) over the action against young demonstrators.

He also accused the authorities of treating young protesters differently from members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), alleging that the latter were being allowed to move freely while demonstrators faced restrictions and police action.

Gandhi claimed that some police personnel had expressed support for the Opposition’s campaign. He alleged that the government and certain Election Commission officials were facilitating “vote theft”, but did not publicly detail evidence supporting the claims in the remarks quoted in the report.

These allegations form part of the ongoing political dispute between the Opposition and the Centre over the functioning of the Election Commission and the revision of electoral rolls.

Rahul Gandhi Repeats Demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation

Gandhi again questioned why Kumar had not resigned as Chief Election Commissioner and claimed that the CEC was unable to sleep at night amid the allegations against him.

“The entire situation is unfolding now, with lakhs of people questioning your conduct and behaviour,” Gandhi said, asserting that the Opposition would not abandon its campaign. He also claimed to have information and evidence concerning Kumar’s past and alleged corruption, without detailing that evidence in the remarks quoted in the report.

The Opposition has been demanding Kumar’s resignation over its allegations of electoral irregularities and has raised objections to the SIR exercise. The claims against the CEC remain allegations made by Gandhi and the Opposition.

INDIA Bloc Plans March to Supreme Court Over ‘Vote Chori’

The INDIA bloc’s planned march towards the Supreme Court is intended to raise concerns over alleged “vote chori”, electoral fairness and the SIR of electoral rolls. Opposition leaders have also sought a halt to the revision exercise and greater accountability from the Election Commission.

The demonstration comes amid heightened security in Delhi, with police restrictions and traffic arrangements introduced ahead of the planned march. Gandhi said the Opposition would continue its resistance, arguing that the campaign was necessary to defend democratic institutions and electoral fairness.