It was supposed to be a polite request: a meeting with the Chief Justice, a memorandum handed over, and a few minutes to explain why millions of voters feel uneasy. The Chief Justice said no. On Monday, the Opposition decided to march to the Supreme Court anyway.

The march to the Supreme Court

Congress has named the demonstration “Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy”. Opposition leaders and supporters were asked to gather at 1:30 pm at the Connaught Place–Barakhamba Road junction and walk about 2 km to the Supreme Court. Reports say Congress workers and leaders also assembled at other venues in the capital as part of the mobilisation, and that six metro stations were shut with a traffic advisory issued, as Delhi Police tightened security in central Delhi.

What the Opposition is demanding

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi wrote to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant asking for a meeting between 4 pm and 5 pm on Monday to hand over a memorandum. It makes four demands: an end to what the Opposition calls “vote chori” (vote theft), 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.

Rahul Gandhi called on students, civil society groups and Opposition parties to join, saying the march would go to the Supreme Court as Indians united beyond party, caste, community and state.

Why the CJI said no

The CJI declined to meet the leaders. According to reports, he explained that similar matters are already pending before the Supreme Court on the judicial side, and that no orders could be passed on the administrative side. Speaking afterwards, he said the court should not be dragged into politics, and that nothing should obstruct the movement of lawyers, litigants and court staff.

“We respect the decision, and we are still marching”

The Opposition has taken the refusal in different ways. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said the Opposition respected the CJI’s decision not to meet its delegation, but would still march, noting that the CJI had pointed to a legal route for submitting a petition. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor accused the Election Commission of ignoring the law and said the leaders would march for Kumar’s resignation and a pause in the SIR. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut was sharper, hitting out at the CJI over the refusal and saying people would remember it.

The BJP’s response

The BJP has countered the agitation. According to reports, it says the Opposition questions EVMs, the Election Commission and the judiciary whenever results go against it, and it accuses Rahul Gandhi of trying to politicise and pressure constitutional institutions to prop up his own career. We have not seen the BJP’s full statement or the name of its spokesperson, so we are treating this as the party’s position rather than a verified fact. The Opposition rejects the charge and says its concerns are about the integrity of the electoral rolls.

How the week got here

Monday’s march is the latest step in a week of protests. On Friday, INDIA bloc leaders marched from Parliament to Vijay Chowk and handed a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu. On Saturday, Delhi Police detained thousands of people ahead of a Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar, including Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal. Earlier in the week, 42 former judges signed an open letter defending the Election Commission and the SIR. The Election Commission and its supporters say the revision is lawful.

What happens next

The first question is how far the march gets, and whether the police allow it to reach the Supreme Court or stop it along the way. After that, attention turns to the Supreme Court itself, where related matters on the SIR and the CEC are already pending.

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