Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday escalated his criticism of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission, saying he was prepared to face more First Information Reports (FIRs) over the Opposition's protests. Addressing reporters in Delhi, Gandhi said 45 FIRs had been registered against him and declared that he wanted the number to reach 100. “Every FIR is like a medal for me,” he said. His remarks came amid an intensifying Opposition campaign against Kumar over allegations of “vote chori” and concerns surrounding the ongoing revision of electoral rolls. The Election Commission and the government have rejected allegations of wrongdoing, while Opposition parties have continued to demand greater scrutiny of the electoral process.

Gandhi's comments followed a day of confrontation between Opposition MPs and police during a protest targeting the Election Commission. On Tuesday, INDIA bloc leaders attempted to march from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters in New Delhi, demanding a meeting with the poll panel and raising objections over electoral-roll changes. Police stopped the march and detained several Opposition leaders. Gandhi and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra later remained at the Akashvani Bhavan premises during a sit-in before they were detained. The protesters were subsequently released. The Opposition has argued that it should be allowed to directly raise its concerns with the Election Commission, while officials said the demonstration had not received the necessary permission.

The latest confrontation is part of a broader campaign by Opposition parties against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Gandhi and other Opposition leaders have alleged irregularities in the revision process and have repeatedly used the phrase “vote chori” to describe their concerns. Gandhi has also demanded Kumar's resignation. The Election Commission has maintained that the electoral-roll revision is aimed at ensuring the accuracy of voter lists and has denied allegations that the exercise is intended to manipulate elections. The BJP has also criticised the Opposition's protests and accused its leaders of undermining electoral institutions.

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The FIR issue has become an important part of Gandhi's response to the protests. Rather than presenting the cases as a deterrent, he said he was willing to face more of them and described the prospect of additional FIRs as “medals”. His statement was framed as a response to the legal action that has followed recent demonstrations. Delhi Police have registered cases in connection with protests linked to the campaign against the Election Commission. Earlier this month, three FIRs were registered against unidentified individuals following a protest at Jantar Mantar, with police citing provisions relating to disobedience of orders, obstruction and alleged use of force against public servants.

The Opposition's agitation has now expanded beyond Congress, with several parties joining calls for action against the Chief Election Commissioner. On Wednesday, Opposition leaders continued their campaign in Delhi, while the Aam Aadmi Party prepared to participate in another protest. The demonstrations are centred on allegations concerning electoral-roll revisions and the functioning of the Election Commission. Opposition parties have sought to make the issue a wider political campaign, arguing that transparency in voter-list preparation is essential to public confidence in elections. The government and the Election Commission, however, have rejected the allegations, creating a sharp divide over the interpretation of the electoral-roll exercise.

Gandhi's latest remarks underline the confrontational nature of the dispute, with the Congress leader indicating that FIRs would not lead him to withdraw from the campaign. His statement that he wanted 100 FIRs came as Opposition parties continued to press their demand for Kumar's resignation and sought to keep the electoral-roll issue at the centre of national political debate. The immediate focus is now on the next phase of the protests and the response from the Election Commission and the government. While the Opposition says its campaign is aimed at protecting the integrity of the electoral process, authorities have maintained that the revision exercise is intended to improve the accuracy of voter lists. The competing claims are likely to remain at the centre of the political confrontation as the protests continue.

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