Rahul Gandhi announced that INDIA bloc leaders will file a petition in the Supreme Court against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls, while also claiming that numerous government officers are secretly sharing internal information with the Opposition.

Rahul Gandhi announced that INDIA bloc leaders will file a petition in the Supreme Court against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls, while also claiming that numerous government officers are secretly sharing internal information with the Opposition.

Rahul Gandhi announced that INDIA bloc leaders will file a petition in the Supreme Court against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls, while also claiming that numerous government officers are secretly sharing internal information with the Opposition.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday stepped up his attack on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls, announcing that INDIA bloc leaders would file a petition in the Supreme Court against the poll panel chief.

In a separate allegation, the Congress leader claimed that around 200 officers in the Narendra Modi-led government were in touch with the Opposition and sharing information with them.

“We know Gyanesh Kumar is unable to sleep at night. I am telling him directly: ‘You will not survive as CEC’,” Gandhi said at a press conference in Mumbai ahead of the INDIA bloc’s ‘Save Democracy’ march to the Supreme Court.

Gandhi said the people and the Opposition were on one side of the struggle, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and CEC Gyanesh Kumar were on the other.

“Five criminals have attacked the idea of India. They will face justice,” he said, adding, “We will not back down. We are standing with the truth.”

Gandhi claimed that protests against alleged electoral fraud and the Election Commission had evolved into a public movement in Delhi over the past four to five days. He said the resistance, which he claimed had been building for 10 to 13 years, was now taking the shape of a broader movement.

Referring to the correspondence he and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Gandhi said the INDIA bloc leaders would approach the Supreme Court with a petition.

“Congress president and I wrote to the CJI, expressing our grave concern about the murder of Indian democracy and election fairness. The CJI responded to us and instructed us to file a petition. Today, INDIA bloc leaders and I will go to the Supreme Court together and file this petition,” he said.

Questioning the restrictions imposed in the national capital, Gandhi alleged that people were being prevented from reaching Delhi and that the city had been turned into a fortress.

'It's Shiva’s Tandav; no planning needed'

Comparing the demonstrations against Gyanesh Kumar to “Lord Shiva’s Tandav”, Gandhi said the movement did not require formal planning.

“My sister (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra) tells me that we should make a plan. So I told my sister, ‘You are not understanding the point. This is Tandav. This is Lord Shiva’s dance. There is no planning in this. Today we are going to the Supreme Court; tomorrow it will be something else. What do you think? Did we make a plan at Akashvani Bhavan?’” Gandhi said.

He also urged people across political parties to join the INDIA bloc’s protest march, scheduled for 1.30 pm from Barakhamba Junction in Connaught Place, saying the demonstration was aimed at protecting the Constitution.