Rahul Gandhi, 10 INDIA bloc leaders file petition in Supreme Court against EC

Rahul Gandhi and 10 Opposition leaders have filed a Supreme Court petition against the Election Commission over alleged voter deletions and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision.Rahul Gandhi marching towards Supreme Court.New Delhi,Oct 12, 2026 17:27 ISTINDIA bloc leaders, led by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, on Monday filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The plea also raises concerns over restrictions on peaceful demonstrations.The petition was filed after INDIA bloc MPs and supporters took out a "March for Democracy" towards the Supreme Court to protest the alleged electoral irregularities. Gandhi’s legal team subsequently filed the plea on behalf of the Congress leader and other Opposition leaders.The public interest litigation (PIL) named 11 Opposition leaders as petitioners: Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, CPI(M) leader MA Baby, CPI leader D Raja, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Mahua Majhi, NCP-SCP leader Supriya Sule and IUML leader ET Mohammed Basheer.The Election Commission has been named as one of the four respondents in the plea. Further details of the petition, including the specific directions sought, are yet to be made public. Congress leader and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the petition addressed various aspects of the SIR exercise as well as restrictions imposed on peaceful demonstrations. He said leaders from different Opposition parties had joined the legal challenge by signing the petition.Responding to questions about the Opposition's earlier attempt to meet the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Singhvi denied that the leaders had sought to exert pressure on the judiciary. He said they had written a letter requesting an appointment and, after being advised to file a petition, proceeded with the legal route. Singhvi also defended the march, describing the turnout as a spontaneous expression of public anger and dissatisfaction. He denied allegations that people had been paid to participate, maintaining that those who joined the demonstration had done so voluntarily.He did not specify a timeline for the hearing or resolution of the petition.- Ends