Opposition's march on the Election Commission stalls at the barricades. Rahul Gandhi climbs one, and the Supreme Court says it cannot act on a news report
The INDIA bloc wants CEC Gyanesh Kumar to go. Police shut Parliament Street and detained leaders; the BJP calls the charges lies; a Kerala corruption probe from 2006 has been reopened.
Opposition parties of the INDIA bloc marched from Parliament towards the Election Commission on Tuesday, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police shut Parliament Street for much of the day and held several leaders. Rahul Gandhi climbed a police barrier and waved the tricolour; later, Congress shared a video of him entering the Akashwani Bhawan complex on the way to the Commission's office. The Biju Janata Dal, which has kept its distance from the bloc, joined the march, which The Indian Express called a sign that the gloves were off against the BJP. Mr Gandhi said the CEC's abuse of position was proven. The BJP called his remarks "full of lies". Mr Kumar postponed a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh.
In court, the hearing of the plea asking whether the CEC can act alone produced two lines worth keeping. According to Hindustan Times, the Supreme Court refused to restrain Mr Kumar, saying it could not pass such an order on the basis of a news report. According to The Indian Express, it issued notice to the Election Commission, said it did not clear a change to Form 6 and that it can annul unilateral decisions; Chief Justice Surya Kant added that no modified Form 6 had the court's approval. Separately, The Indian Express and Mint report that a 2006 bribery probe in Kerala involving Mr Kumar is being reopened. The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls remains at the centre of the row. Meanwhile, a Delhi ACP accused by a woman journalist of harassment at Jantar Mantar has had his promotion put on hold.