Opposition to challenge CEC in court, Rahul alleges government officials leaking information

The opposition INDIA bloc said it would file a petition in the Supreme Court challenging Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announcing the move would take place at 3 pm. Gandhi's announcement came amid escalating tensions between the ruling government and the opposition coalition over election management. In a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi claimed that approximately 200 officers serving under the Modi government are "in touch" with opposition parties and are "passing on information." He alleged this widespread contact with government officials demonstrated internal opposition to the administration's policies. The Congress leader did not provide specific details about the nature of the information being shared or the identities of the officials allegedly involved. The opposition coalition has increasingly criticized the Election Commission's functioning, arguing it lacks independence in overseeing India's electoral process. The Supreme Court petition represents an escalation in the political confrontation between the INDIA bloc and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led government as the nation grapples with questions about institutional autonomy and democratic governance.