The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday (October 12, 2026) compared the repeated protests by the Opposition against alleged “vote chori “ (theft) to Lord Shiva’s tandav (cosmic dance), while claiming that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar had sent him messages.
“This is tandav, Lord Shiva’s dance. There is no planning here,” Mr. Gandhi said in response to a question on the Opposition’s future strategy on the issue, adding, “There is no need for a plan. A dance is going on, Lord Shiva’s dance. And anyone can join Shivji ki baraat (the wedding procession of Lord Shiva).”
The Opposition leader addressed a press conference at the Congress headquarters, Indira Bhavan, before parties belonging to the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) marched towards the Supreme Court from the Barakhamba Road intersection in central Delhi.
Mr. Gandhi claimed that as many as 200 officers of the Narendra Modi government had kept providing information to them, and used his press conference to address Mr. Kumar directly, reiterating his suggestion that the CEC should turn an approver in the alleged vote chori issue.
“We know Gyanesh Kumar is unable to sleep at night. I am telling him directly — you will not survive as CEC,” the Opposition leader said.
To a specific question on whether the CEC had tried to get in touch with him at any point of time, Mr. Gandhi said, “Messages come and I know he is watching this press conference.”
“Turn approver. You (Mr. Kumar) have made a mistake but you are not the mind behind the mistake. We are after the people who are behind what you did,” Mr. Gandhi said, when asked if he had any message for the CEC.
Into the second week of back-to-back protests by the INDIA bloc, Mr. Gandhi also talked of patience and perseverance as the principle of resistance is not “a matter of one day”.
“We will not retreat and we will not get tired. Why? Because the truth is with us. Those who are trying to protect lies will get tired,” he said, adding, “Mr. Modi, let me tell you that 200 officers of your government are in touch with us, giving information, from with the ED (Enforcement Directorate), CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), Foreign Ministry. Do whatever you want, the truth is with us.”
Asked to comment on parallel protests by various civil society groups and organisations, including the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), Mr. Gandhi said: “There are no parallel protests, there is one protest, the protest is to remove Gyanesh Kumar, and then after that remove Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Amit Shah. We are not going to stop.”
Questioning the curbs imposed across the national capital and turning Delhi into a fortress, with people coming in buses and trains being stopped before last week’s protests, the Opposition leader said the deployment of 20,000-30,000 police personnel had worked to their advantage.
“We want to show to the country that the Narendra Modi government is protecting Gyanesh Kumar. The more they do so, the better for us,” he said.
Stating that the Constitution was their religion, Mr. Gandhi said, “Till the time the Constitution is not upheld, the Election Commissioner does not go, and election system is not revamped, the youth of the country are not going to stop.”
“The importance is of India and its Constitution, the expression of people, and the future of the country,” Mr. Gandhi said.
Published – October 12, 2026 10:39 pm IST
