On June 14, 2024, opposition leaders marched from Parliament to Vijay Chowk and submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu. This followed earlier demonstrations and was part of their effort to raise concerns about electoral integrity.
Three days later, on June 17, 2024, the Leaders of the Opposition—Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge—wrote to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, requesting a meeting between 4 and 5 pm to hand over a memorandum demanding an end to ‘vote chori’, the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a halt to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and a return to paper ballots.
CJI Surya Kant refuses to meet Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi @satyastp_satya reports https://t.co/FG0YmTDYqa
Also on June 17, 2024, the CJI’s office replied via official mail, declining the meeting. The response noted that similar cases were already under judicial consideration by the Supreme Court and advised the opposition to file a formal petition if they wished to pursue the matter.
He declared that the forthcoming march would unite Indians beyond party, gender, caste, community and state.
On October 11, 2026, the Chief Justice again rejected a request from INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, to meet over alleged electoral irregularities. The CJI’s office sent a reasoned response by email, emphasizing that the issues raised should be addressed through judicial proceedings rather than an administrative memorandum.
Restrictions likely to return as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appeals to all to join INDIA bloc march to the Supreme Court; epicentre of protest shifts from Jantar Mantar to Connaught Place. ✍️ @kaurlavpreet_ , @ikasnik https://t.co/qIipPj0fdL
On the same October 11, 2026, reports indicated a heavy police crackdown on demonstrators who were demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. The opposition had announced a ‘Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy’ set to converge at Connaught Place‑Barakhamba Road junction at 1:30 pm, intending to march to the Supreme Court and submit a memorandum over allegations of ‘vote chori’, the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and the CEC’s resignation.
Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, described the previous day’s youth protest in Delhi as peaceful, saying the demonstrators came with love in their hearts and were beaten by both police and BJP goons. He declared that the forthcoming march would unite Indians beyond party, gender, caste, community and state. Mallikarjun Kharge, speaking in Bengaluru, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of creating chaos across the country, citing the heavy police deployment and detentions as evidence of governmental fear. He also said the leaders had sought the CJI’s intervention with folded hands, only able to request, not demand.
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar dismissed the protests, comparing the opposition’s occasional presence to a cockroach crawling across one’s back. Another protester, Abhijeet Dipke, declared he had signed no bond not to protest and would return to the streets, daring authorities to jail him not just once but a hundred times.