Opposition leaders march, file petition challenging SIR

Opposition leaders marched in New Delhi on October 12 and filed a joint petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleging irregularities in the process. The allegations have not been adjudicated. Rahul Gandhi led the INDIA bloc march toward the court, joined by senior opposition figures including Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee and Tejashwi Yadav, along with activists and civil society members. The petition names the Election Commission of India, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other election commissioners as respondents, according to reports of the filing. The opposition has called for Kumar’s resignation and a halt to the SIR. The march followed days of protests in the capital, and leaders presented the demonstration as part of a broader campaign concerning electoral rights and democratic institutions. The size and unity of the protest were described differently in political accounts; the filing and march were the central events reported on Monday.