Rahul Gandhi addressed reporters at a press conference on Tuesday, 12 October, after a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders in his Sunehri Bagh Road residence, declaring that revealing the coalition’s next move would "spoil the surprise".
He warned that the political struggle would endure, adding that the people’s resistance would "triumph" regardless of institutional shifts. "I used the word 'perseverance' yesterday," he said, stressing that the opposition would not halt until achieving its goal.
The gathering featured key opposition figures: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party chair Sonia Gandhi, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, JMM’s Mahua Majhi, and others, all of whom joined Gandhi for a tea session that underscored the coalition’s unity.
The bloc’s anger has simmered since October 6, when leaders marched from Parliament to the Election Commission, halted by security, followed by an eight‑hour sit‑in at Akashvani Bhawan. Subsequent protests on 7 and 8 October saw MPs rally in Jantar Mantar and Rajghat, while thousands were detained during the weekend.
In a decisive move, the INDIA coalition filed a joint petition at the Supreme Court, challenging the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The case is set to be heard next month, marking a critical juncture for India’s democratic process.