INDIA bloc plans Supreme Court march over election claims

Rahul Gandhi said the INDIA bloc planned to march to the Supreme Court in New Delhi on October 12 and file a petition challenging alleged electoral irregularities, as security measures were tightened in central Delhi. The reports described the march and filing as plans announced ahead of the event, not as actions confirmed to have taken place. Speaking at a press conference before the scheduled march, Gandhi said he and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had written to the Chief Justice of India about what they viewed as threats to democracy and electoral fairness. Gandhi said the Chief Justice had directed them to file a petition. That account of the exchange was attributed to Gandhi. The INDIA bloc’s announced march was planned for 3 p.m., proceeding from Connaught Place toward the Supreme Court. It was intended to protest what opposition leaders called “vote theft” and alleged failures in the Election Commission’s functioning under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The allegations are political claims; the reports do not establish that electoral wrongdoing occurred.