Anti-CEC protests LIVE: Opposition leaders arrive at Rahul Gandhis residence for hi-tea meeting after Supreme Court march

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar rejects claims that Rahul Gandhi deliberately pushed him during the ‘Vote Chori’ protest, saying the Congress leader had advised him to return to his vehicle out of concern for his safety. Shivakumar says their bond is rooted in trust and affection, urging people not to be distracted from the fight to protect democracy and voting rights.

nion Home Minister Amit Shah targets Rahul Gandhi over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, accusing the Congress leader of shielding infiltrators. Shah predicts a massive NDA majority in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and says Congress is headed for a fourth consecutive defeat.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah responds to Rahul Gandhi amid the INDIA bloc’s protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and its campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi says the Congress has the utmost respect for the Chief Justice of India, the Supreme Court and the judicial system, while asserting that political and public resistance will continue and ultimately triumph.

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shiva Kumar arrives to attend INDIA BLOC Meeting at Rahul Gandhis residence

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has accused Delhi Police of violating detainees’ fundamental rights by denying them access to lawyers, calling for the release of Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, Ajinkya and other party members.

Shashi Tharoor arrives to attend INDIA BLOC Meeting at Rahul Gandhis residence in New Delhi

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday warned that protest sites would emerge across the country if demonstrations were banned at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

Dipke said that if police stop him on his way to Delhi, he would begin the agitation from wherever he is detained.

The CJP leader also said he would reach the national capital on Wednesday to join the CJP’s protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

He was speaking to the media at his native village Santuk Pimpri in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district, where he had come to attend the asthi visarjan (immersion of one’s ashes – a post-death ritual) of his late grandmother, Savitribai Dipke.

– PTI

“We will continue our democratic struggle demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Detentions, police barricades and repression will not silence students or stop us from exercising our democratic rights,” the All India Students’ Federation posted on X.

All the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) workers, who staged a flash protest in Connaught Place metro station in New Delhi, were detained by the police. 

– Shrimansi Kaushik

Ramlila Maidan, designated as one of the three new protest sites in the capital, has no free dates for the next two and a half months. Only December 29, 30 and 31 are open for booking, according to officials.

The 12-acre ground, which can accommodate 50,000 people, can now be booked only for the three dates towards the end of the years, officials in the know said.

“The booking rate for the ground is ₹50,000 per day, plus a ₹55,000 security deposit that is refundable. The initial outlay including taxes comes to ₹1.21 lakh for a day’s booking,” an official said.

CJP’s legal wing Ratna Singh alleged that detained CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde, along with others were barred from meeting their lawyer by the SHO of Jaffarpur Kalan police station. Their phones have also been confiscated, she added. 

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A Revolutionary Workers Party (RPWI) member alleged that many RSS goons have been sexually assaulting women here, and the police did not protected them. “But we have been detained, brutally beaten till one of our members fainted,” he said. “Why such preferential treatment by the police?”

– Shrimansi Kaushik

“We, from the Disha Students Organisations, Naujawana Bharat Sabha and Revolutionaly Workers Party have been making these demands consistently. We were detained in the last two days despite peaceful protests,” a member of RWPI said. 

“Many of our members were beaten up brutally, many have received injuries,” he said. “But we will continue to fight for our basic rights.”

– Shrimansi Kaushik

Members of Disha Students Organisation hold a protest at Connaught Place against the de-notification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site and the scrapping of SIR.

“Jantar Mantar is ours, of the people. Throwing us to far off places like Burari is not going to help,” Naureen from Disha Students’ Organisation said.

“It is time to take a joint call. We are also demanding release of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka,” said Chiranshu from Naujawan Bharat Sabha.

– Shrimansi Kaushik

The Union government informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday (October 13, 2026) that its response to petitions alleging illegal detentions and the shutdown of public and rail transport, including Metro service, in Delhi on October 10 is “ready” but needs more fine-tuning.

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant extended the time for the government to file the reply affidavit by Thursday (October 15).

The ​Union government informed the Supreme Court​ on Tuesday (October 13, 2026) that its response to petitions alleging illegal detentions, shutdown of public and rail transport, including Metro service, in Delhi on October 10 is “ready” but needs more fine-tuning.

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant extended the time for the government to file the reply affidavit by Thursday (October 15).

​Read more here​

The Supreme Court deferred to Thursday (October 15, 2026) the hearing on pleas related to protests, closure of metro stations and disruptions in train services ahead of the October 10 agitations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar due to the indisposition of Justice V. Mohana.

On Tuesday (October 13, 2026), a Bench of Chief Justice (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was scheduled to conduct the crucial hearing on a litany of petitions.

– PTI

Here is a look at the history of Jantar Mantar, how it evolved into one of the capital’s most prominent protest sites, and some of the major demonstrations held there in recent years.

The Supreme Court assured petitioners, who have filed pleas raising issues related to protests in Delhi, that all their matters would be listed for hearing. 

Several pleas were mentioned before a Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana seeking urgent listing. 

“We will list all these matters. Make sure that the defects are cured,” the CJI told senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who mentioned the matter. The Bench said it might list these pleas for hearing on Wednesday or Thursday.

-PTI

Two FIRs have been registered at Delhi’s Barakhamba Road and Tilak Marg police stations in connection with the Opposition’s march to the Supreme Court against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, officials said on Tuesday. 

Read more here

Delhi High Court to hear today petitions seeking SOPs to regulate protests and prevent disruption to businesses and lawyers. 

Senior Advocate Sachin Puri said recent protests caused losses exceeding ₹2,000 crore to traders, with areas like Connaught Place becoming inaccessible. 

The court will hear the case at the end of its board, while awaiting directions from the Supreme Court, which is hearing a plea on similar issues.

-Soibam Rocky Singh

On defects in Rahul Gandhi’s Supreme Court petition against the ECI over SIR, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says, “There might be errors, but we will correct them. I am one of the petitioners, including all the parties that took part in yesterday’s protest… We want the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, stop the scams going on in the Election Commission, SIR, restore the 13 crore deleted votes…”

-ANI

‘Preventive detention’ means detention of a person without a trial or conviction by a Court. The primary objective of preventive detention is not to punish an individual for a past offence but to prevent him from committing an offence in future.

Reacting to the video posted by Abhijit Dipke showing CJP protesters carrying a flag near Jantar Mantar, a senior Delhi Police officer told The Hindu that the protesters had entered the area through the eateries and food stalls near the protest site. 

“The shops serve as regular eating places for employees working in nearby offices and remain open and accessible to the public, except on days when major protest calls are made, such as October 10,” the officer said.

With Jantar Mantar having been de-notified as a protest site, staging demonstrations there is illegal, the officer said, adding that the protesters were detained immediately and further action was underway. — Lavpreet Kaur

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained while trying to reach Jantar Mantar, Police sources said on Tuesday (October 13, 2026).

Read more here

Two FIRs have been registered at Delhi’s Barakhamba Road and Tilak Marg police stations in connection with the Opposition’s march to the Supreme Court against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, officials said on Tuesday (October 13, 2026).

According to police, no permission had been granted for the march to the Supreme Court and several opposition leaders were allegedly seen breaking police barricades with the help of a mini-truck during the protest on Monday (October 12, 2026).– PTI

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A petition filed by Opposition leaders led by Rahul Gandhi in the Supreme Court for a complete disclosure of records and decisions of the Election Commission of India (EC) on the Special Intensive Revision exercise and an independent probe into allegations of unilateral exercise of power by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, which led to voter deletions and modifications, is not listed for hearing on October 13.

The petition was filed on Monday (October 12, 2026) evening even as Mr. Gandhi led a march to the Supreme Court.

He and the other leaders across the Opposition political spectrum had come to the Supreme Court Registry to mark their presence as petitioners in the case. — Krishnadas Rajagopal

Delhi Police has sought an extension of the deployment of 273 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in Delhi till October 20, citing the possibility of protests by the Cockroach Janta Party and other organisations, sources said on Tuesday (October 13, 2026).

In a letter to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, police requested that the deployment, which was scheduled to end on Monday, be extended to maintain law and order and deal with any potential situation.

“A total of 301 CAPF companies had been approved for deployment in Delhi, including 221 companies cleared on October 6 and another 80 on October 8,” a source said.

Of the additional 80 companies, 28 had not reported to Delhi Police as of Monday (October 12, 2026), the sources said.

They said police have flagged the possibility of demonstrations at several sensitive locations, including Jantar Mantar, Election Commission, Parliament House and India Gate. — PTI

There have been renewed protests against the special intensive revision (SIR) process. Former Election Commissioners and Supreme Court judges have also questioned the exercise in its current form. As a counter, there have also been former judges and bureaucrats who have supported the current SIR process.

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A joint press conference of INDIA bloc leaders would precede the tea at Gandhi’s 5, Sunehri Bagh Road residence.

“Following today’s March for Democracy and the submission of the petition … a joint press conference of INDIA leaders will be held tomorrow afternoon, followed by tea. I invite you to join me at my residence at 5, Sunehri Bagh Road, New Delhi, at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 13th October,” the invite sent out on Monday (October 12, 2026) read.

Sources said deliberations on the strategy for joint protests against “vote chori” (vote theft) and to press for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation are also expected to take place during the meeting at Gandhi’s residence.

This comes a day after the raging protests over the vote theft charge reached the Supreme Court’s doorstep. Opposition stalwarts, joined by activists and civil society members, undertook a “March for Democracy” on a heavily barricaded route and filed a joint petition against SIR and alleged poll irregularities in a major show of strength in the national capital. — PTI

The Delhi High Court agreed to hear on Tuesday (October 13, 2026) a petition regarding the alleged closure of Jantar Mantar as a protest site in the capital.

A lawyer mentioned the matter before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma on Monday (October 12, 2026), stating that peaceful protests were being quelled as authorities had not earmarked an alternative site for them.

The court also agreed to hear on Tuesday (October 13, 2026) another petition alleging that “outsiders” had entered the protest held over the weekend and harassed the protesters.

National Students’ Union of India president Vinod Jakhar’s petition sought a “fair, independent and time-bound probe into a series of assaults committed in broad daylight” on October 10 on ordinary protesters. — PTI

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Monday said dictators often subvert electoral systems to cling to power before dismantling civil rights. This trend is evident in India under the BJP leadership, he said.

He was inaugurating the ‘Save Democracy’ gathering organised by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) at Gandhi Park to protest against arrests linked to the Delhi agitations, demand the protection of democratic rights and seek the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Protesters who tried to march to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Karnataka’s office in Bengaluru on Monday, to condemn the Delhi Police’s treatment of demonstrators protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), faced similar heavy-handedness from the Bengaluru City Police, with at least 100 people detained, and students, lawyers, and women protesters allegedly manhandled. 

Is the ​​Election Commission of India (ECI)​​ at sixes and sevens, idiomatically and otherwise? Will Form 6 be its undoing, and has Form 7 caused it unmanageable discomfiture? The barbs associated with these forms have further damaged the image of the beleaguered constitutional body entrusted with safeguarding the constitutional right to vote of “we, the people”.

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Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Monday (October 12, 2026) accused the Delhi Police of mentally torturing him and his family after informing him of his grandmother’s death during his preventive detention last week. He alleged that the police did not allow him to speak to his cousin about his grandmother’s death and instead asked him to call his grieving parents. He also called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “coward dictator”.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, along with other leaders of Opposition parties, moved the Supreme Court on Monday (October 12, 2026) seeking a complete disclosure of “files, agendas, minutes, notings and objections” recorded by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which has so far led to the deletion of about 13 crore voters from electoral rolls across India.

Mr. Gandhi sought a judicial examination of the Election Commission of India (ECI) records to verify whether Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar acted arbitrarily and unilaterally during the ongoing SIR.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday (October 12, 2026) compared the repeated protests by the Opposition against alleged “vote chori “ (theft) to Lord Shiva’s tandav (cosmic dance), while claiming that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar had sent him messages.

“This is tandav, Lord Shiva’s dance. There is no planning here,” Mr. Gandhi said in response to a question on the Opposition’s future strategy on the issue, adding, “There is no need for a plan. A dance is going on, Lord Shiva’s dance. And anyone can join Shivji ki baraat (the wedding procession of Lord Shiva).”

Exactly three days before the Delhi Police de-notified central Delhi’s Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site on Monday (October 12, 2026), the Supreme Court and the Union government were on the same page about finding an alternative site to “peacefully and lawfully” express dissent in the national capital.

On October 9, both the court and the government had reasoned that central Delhi was too cramped for protests. It denied protesters basic amenities. Observations and remarks were also exchanged about how inconvenient protests in and around Jantar Mantar were to ordinary commuters in Delhi. The Chief Justice of India remarked that central Delhi did not have any washroom, medical and drinking water facilities.

Opposition parties and youth groups strongly condemned the Centre’s decision on Monday (October 12, 2026) to de-notify Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site in New Delhi. This comes as youth organisations have been trying to seek permission to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding rollback of the special intensive revision (SIR) and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has invited INDIA bloc MPs, civil society members and student organisations for a high tea at his residence on Tuesday (October 13, 2026), sources said.

They said a joint press conference of INDIA leaders would also take place in the afternoon followed by tea at Gandhi’s 5, Sunehri Bagh Road residence.

“Following today’s March for Democracy and the submission of the petition … a joint press conference of INDIA leaders will be held tomorrow afternoon, followed by tea. ‘I invite you to join me at my residence at 5, Sunehri Bagh Road, New Delhi, at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, 13th October’,” the invite read.

This comes a day after the raging protests over the vote theft charge reached the Supreme Court’s doorstep. Opposition stalwarts, joined by activists and civil society members, undertook a “March for Democracy” on a heavily barricaded route and filed a joint petition against SIR and alleged poll irregularities in a major show of strength in the national capital. — PTI

The Supreme Court on Monday (October 12, 2026) clarified that it had neither approved nor disapproved the controversial alterations made to Form 6 in its May 27 judgment, which was entirely about the legality of the pilot Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Bihar.

The Court said the May 27 ruling pre-dated the changes made to Form 6.

The Delhi Police detained more than 5,000 protesters as they tried to reach Jantar Mantar for the protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a rollback of the SIR. In the lead up to the protests in Delhi, there was a nationwide crackdown on protesters by the police force. Among those detained and brutally manhandled by the Delhi police were leaders of various political factions, former Chief Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, lawyers, journalists, students, activists, and reportedly people who were not even part of the protest. Police detained people at representatives’ residences even before the protest started, and en route to the protest site. However, the Supreme Court on Sunday (October 11, 2026) directed the Centre and the Delhi Police to ensure free movement of people ‘subject to law and order’.

The DMK on Monday (October 12, 2026) said it had no reason to participate in protests organised by the Congress after the latter “betrayed” it for the sake of power, forcing the DMK to leave the INDIA bloc.

“We left the INDIA bloc after the Congress betrayed the DMK for the sake of power. There is no need for us to participate in the Congress’s protests, and the party cannot compel us to join them,” a statement from the DMK headquarters said on Monday (October 12).

The Delhi Police on Monday (October 12, 2026) de-notified Jantar Mantar as a designated venue for protests and demonstrations, replacing one of the capital’s longest-established sites of public dissent with three alternative grounds farther from the seat of power. The move drew criticism from activists, who said relocating demonstrations would make it harder for citizens to draw the attention of political leaders and decision-makers to their demands.

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The scene was a stark departure from the preceding two days, when student protesters attempting to mobilise in the same parts of the Capital were rounded up, bundled into police buses and taken away. Several alleged that they had been assaulted during detention, while journalists covering the protests also reported being detained.