The INDIA bloc is intensifying its campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, combining street protests with a legal challenge to the law that provides protection to election commissioners from certain legal proceedings.

Opposition leaders are gathering in Delhi for a fresh round of political activity, with the alliance planning to approach Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. Its proposed representation will raise allegations of electoral irregularities, the legal protection available to election commissioners, and the process used to select the Chief Election Commissioner.

The campaign follows several days of protests against Gyanesh Kumar, with the Opposition demanding accountability over allegations of vote theft and irregularities in electoral processes.

INDIA bloc questions legal protection for election commissioners

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the law enacted in 2023 that provides legal protection to the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners.

Speaking in Bengaluru, Kharge questioned why election commissioners had been granted what he described as special protection from legal accountability.

He alleged that the protection was followed by instances of vote theft, electronic voting machine manipulation and electoral fraud. These are allegations made by the Congress leader and should not be treated as established findings.

Kharge also argued that the legal safeguards could undermine accountability for actions taken by election commissioners.

The INDIA bloc’s proposed memorandum will challenge the 2023 law’s provisions concerning protection from investigation or punishment after retirement. It will also raise the issue of the Chief Justice’s exclusion from the selection process for the Chief Election Commissioner.

Opposition to submit memorandum to Chief Justice

The INDIA bloc has already met President Droupadi Murmu and submitted a memorandum outlining its concerns.

The alliance now plans to meet Chief Justice of India Surya Kant at around 5 pm on Monday, October 12, according to the report.

The proposed representation will detail the Opposition’s allegations against Gyanesh Kumar and raise concerns about the legal framework governing election commissioners.

It will also include allegations of vote theft through the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS). The Opposition intends to present documentary evidence in support of its claims.

The allegations and evidence are to be presented by the alliance; their inclusion in the memorandum does not, by itself, establish electoral wrongdoing.

Rahul Gandhi postpones Goa visit as protests continue

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has postponed a scheduled visit to Goa and has met party general secretaries and other leaders as the INDIA bloc prepares for its next steps.

The Congress has instructed all its Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members to remain in Delhi.

The Opposition’s campaign has continued since October 6, when INDIA bloc leaders marched from Parliament towards the Election Commission’s office. The protest drew national attention after several prominent leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were detained.

The alliance subsequently held demonstrations in central Delhi, including a gathering following a lunch meeting and a sit-in at Rajghat.

The protests centre on demands for accountability from the Chief Election Commissioner over alleged electoral irregularities.

INDIA bloc cites scale of security deployment

Opposition leaders said that more than 30,000 police personnel and over 7,000 paramilitary troops had been deployed in Delhi over Saturday and Sunday.

They also said that around 3,000 protesters attempting to join the Cockroach Janata Party’s demonstration against Gyanesh Kumar were detained on Saturday.

The INDIA bloc leaders argued that the scale of the mobilisation required an unprecedented response, reflecting their determination to continue the campaign through protests and legal channels.

The developments mark a further expansion of the Opposition’s campaign, which is now proceeding on two fronts: demonstrations against the Chief Election Commissioner and a proposed legal challenge to the protections and procedures governing the Election Commission.

Delhi and the National Capital Region woke up to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms on Monday morning, October 12, as changing weather conditions brought rain to several parts of the region. Waterlogging was reported in multiple areas, affecting local conditions during the morning hours.

The downpour also brought cooler weather to the national capital and surrounding areas. The rainfall comes amid forecasts of further rain and thunderstorms in Delhi-NCR.

Waterlogging reported in several areas

Heavy rain led to water accumulation in several parts of Delhi. The Jhandewalan Temple area in Karol Bagh was among the locations where waterlogging was reported.

The conditions highlighted the local impact of the morning downpour, particularly in areas where accumulated rainwater can affect movement.

Thunderstorms accompany rainfall

The rainfall was accompanied by thunderstorms, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting continued moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms over Delhi-NCR for the next two to three hours, according to a report published on Monday morning.

Residents and commuters should follow official weather and traffic updates for information about changing conditions.

Rain brings cooler weather to Delhi-NCR

The heavy rainfall brought a noticeable change in weather conditions across the region, with cooler conditions following the downpour.

The development comes as Delhi-NCR experiences unsettled weather on October 12. Further rainfall and thunderstorms could affect local conditions through the morning.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated a new stretch of Chennai Metro Phase II, connecting Poonamallee and Vadapalani. The project, constructed at a cost of around Rs. 4,900 crore, is aimed at improving public transport connectivity across parts of Chennai.

The inauguration took place on October 11, 2026, as part of the Prime Minister’s visit to Tamil Nadu, during which development projects worth more than Rs. 13,000 crore were scheduled to be launched or dedicated to the nation.

The newly opened section forms part of Corridor 4 of Chennai Metro Phase II. The corridor features advanced signalling systems designed to support driverless train operations. 

Chennai Metro Phase II to improve connectivity

The Poonamallee–Vadapalani stretch is expected to strengthen links between Chennai’s western suburbs and the city centre. The expansion is expected to improve connectivity and provide commuters with an additional public transport option. 

One of the corridor’s key infrastructure features is a 3.7-kilometre double-decker structure. The section is part of the broader Phase II expansion of the Chennai Metro Rail Project.

During his visit, Modi travelled on the Metro between Porur Bypass Station and Poonamallee Bypass Station and back. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was also present during the inauguration programme.

Other infrastructure projects in Tamil Nadu

The Metro inauguration formed part of a wider development programme involving projects worth more than Rs. 13,000 crore across Tamil Nadu.

The programme included national highway projects worth around Rs. 3,700 crore, along with railway infrastructure works valued at more than Rs. 750 crore. Other initiatives covered port infrastructure and development projects at Chennai Port, Kamarajar Port and V.O. Chidambaranar Port.

Modi was also scheduled to dedicate the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre at IIT Madras and participate in the golden jubilee celebrations of Jaigopal Garodia Hindu Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Chennai.

The Chennai Metro Phase II expansion is intended to improve urban connectivity and provide commuters with additional public transport options as the city develops its Metro network.