New Delhi, October 13: The Congress brought student leaders from different political organisations into the INDIA bloc’s march to the Supreme Court on Monday, as opposition parties intensified their protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The participation of student representatives marked a significant moment in the ongoing demonstrations, bringing student activists and opposition lawmakers together on a common platform.
The march, led by prominent INDIA bloc leaders, saw Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and other opposition figures take part in the demonstration. Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby were also associated with the opposition's wider efforts against the Election Commission.
Among the student leaders who joined the march were Aishe Ghosh, national joint secretary of the Students' Federation of India (SFI), and Jannat Bishnoi, an executive councillor of the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) associated with the National Students' Union of India (NSUI). Neha Bora, president of the All India Students' Association (AISA), and former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union president N Sai Balaji also joined the demonstration.
According to Hindustan Times, the decision to include student leaders was a calculated move by the Congress to broaden the base of the protests against Gyanesh Kumar. A senior Congress leader said the participation of student organisations could help strengthen the movement by bringing together different groups opposing the SIR exercise.
CPIM general secretary MA Baby welcomed the development, describing the presence of student leaders alongside opposition lawmakers as a recognition of their contribution to the protests. He said the move conveyed a message of unity among the demonstrators.
The march also featured notable visuals, with Jannat Bishnoi standing near the front of the procession while Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stepped back. Neha Bora and Priyanka Gandhi were later seen walking hand in hand, with Rahul Gandhi following behind them.
The growing involvement of student organisations comes amid continuing demonstrations over the revision of electoral rolls. Critics have raised concerns about alleged voter deletions and the possible exclusion of eligible voters, while the Election Commission has maintained that decisions taken by its three-member panel, including those relating to SIR, were unanimous.
Addressing the gathering, Rahul Gandhi described the protests as a collective movement and said the demonstrations were connected rather than separate efforts. He also announced that the opposition would continue its campaign to “save the Constitution”.
The INDIA bloc leaders subsequently submitted a fresh petition to the Supreme Court concerning allegations of “vote chori”, or electoral manipulation. The opposition is seeking accountability over the concerns surrounding the electoral roll revision and has demanded Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
The march began later than originally scheduled, with large crowds gathering around Barakhamba Road and Connaught Place. Police personnel erected barricades and diverted traffic as protesters assembled.
The inclusion of student leaders highlights the growing intersection between campus-based activism and opposition politics, as the controversy over SIR continues to fuel demonstrations across the country.
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