Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a renewed attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged vote theft. Addressing the matter, he claimed that while over 45 defamation cases are registered against him, no legal action or first information report has been initiated regarding his vote theft accusations. Gandhi alleged that the leadership fears filing a case because a formal legal proceeding would lead to scrutiny and entanglement for senior leaders. The opposition continues to demand accountability and the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over the electoral process.
In parallel developments, the National Students' Union of India staged a symbolic protest march from Raisina Road towards Jantar Mantar in Delhi against the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner. Demonstrators wore bandages on their fingers to protest the alleged deletion of millions of voters, condemning the administration's actions as an assault on democracy. Protesters demanded the reclaiming of Jantar Mantar as a designated demonstration site following its denotification, criticising heavy security deployment as government fear. Delhi Police, accompanied by paramilitary personnel including the Central Reserve Police Force and Rapid Action Force, barricaded the route, issued warnings, and detained student workers attempting to march forward.
Meanwhile, a political war of words intensified across multiple fronts regarding regime change and foreign protest analogies. Ruling alliance leaders alleged that a coordinated conspiracy was hatched to incite the youth and instigate street unrest, arson, and disorder. Emphasising that leadership changes in a constitutional democracy can only occur through free and fair elections rather than street agitation or external interference, leaders accused student bodies and opposition groups of attempting to destabilise the nation. Student organisations defended the youth mobilisation as a struggle for democratic and voting rights, keeping political tensions high between rival fronts.