The Aam Aadmi Party has stepped up preparations for its proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on October 10, with the party making contingency plans in anticipation of possible disruptions.
Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj held a meeting with party MLAs, councillors, district presidents, Assembly presidents and ward-level functionaries to discuss arrangements for the planned demonstration. A key part of the meeting was the preparation of an alternative leadership structure in case senior leaders are detained before or during the protest.
The protest is being organised over the AAP’s demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party has been raising concerns about the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and has alleged irregularities in the electoral process. The Election Commission has defended the revision exercise and maintained that the process is intended to keep electoral rolls accurate and remove duplicate, deceased or otherwise ineligible entries.
Bharadwaj has claimed that leaders associated with organisations supporting the October 10 demonstration could face arrest ahead of the protest. He urged participating groups to prepare second and third levels of leadership so that the demonstration can continue even if senior leaders are detained. These statements represent the AAP’s assessment and allegations, and there has been no independent confirmation of a government plan to arrest the organisers.
According to Bharadwaj, contingency planning should not be limited to senior party leaders. He said district-level and Assembly-level leaders should also be prepared to take responsibility if members of the first-line leadership are unavailable.
The AAP leader said that maintaining an orderly and peaceful demonstration could become more difficult if senior leaders were detained. He therefore asked participating organisations to ensure that alternative leaders were prepared to communicate with authorities and help maintain discipline during the protest.
Bharadwaj also raised concerns about possible disruption to communication channels. He asked organisations to consider alternative methods of communication if commonly used social media or messaging platforms became inaccessible. He specifically referred to the possibility of using other communication platforms as part of the contingency arrangements.
The AAP has stressed that the planned demonstration should remain peaceful. Bharadwaj said the protest should continue within democratic, constitutional and legal limits, regardless of whether arrests take place.
The October 10 protest is part of a broader political campaign by Opposition groups against the Election Commission and its handling of electoral roll revisions. Several political parties and civil society groups have raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision process and have demanded greater transparency.
The issue has become a major political point of contention in Delhi in recent days. Opposition groups have accused the Election Commission of failing to adequately address their concerns over voter rolls. The Election Commission has rejected allegations that the revision process is intended to exclude eligible voters and has defended its procedures.
AAP’s preparations come after a series of demonstrations in Delhi and other parts of the country. Several protesters have been detained during recent demonstrations related to demands concerning the Election Commission. Police action and restrictions on gatherings have also become part of the political debate.
Bharadwaj has described the October 10 protest as a movement that should not depend on any single political leader or organisation. His message to supporters was that the protest should continue peacefully even if some organisers are unable to participate.
The preparation of alternative leadership is therefore intended by the party to ensure continuity in its organisational activities. The AAP has asked participating groups to identify people who can assume responsibility at different levels if senior organisers are unavailable.
Communication planning is another important part of the preparations. The party has discussed the possibility that conventional communication channels could face disruption and has encouraged organisations to consider alternative methods. This is a contingency measure proposed by the AAP and does not establish that any messaging platform will actually be blocked.
The planned protest is also expected to draw attention to the wider dispute over electoral rolls and the Election Commission. AAP leaders have repeatedly demanded action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while the Election Commission has maintained its position on the electoral revision process.
The political atmosphere surrounding the issue has intensified following demonstrations by Opposition parties and student organisations. The protests have focused on allegations concerning voter registration, electoral roll revisions and the functioning of the Election Commission.
The AAP has said that its October 10 demonstration will remain peaceful and within the legal framework. The party’s latest organisational preparations are aimed at ensuring that the protest can continue even if some of its leaders are detained.
At present, the possibility of arrests cited by Bharadwaj remains an allegation by the AAP rather than a confirmed government decision. Any arrests or police action before the October 10 protest would have to be assessed on the basis of official statements and developments at the time.
The October 10 Jantar Mantar protest is therefore expected to be closely watched amid the continuing political dispute over electoral roll revisions. The AAP’s decision to prepare alternative leadership and communication arrangements reflects the party’s expectation of possible challenges to its mobilisation plans.
The party has also reiterated that organisers should maintain discipline and ensure that the demonstration remains democratic, constitutional, legal and peaceful. Further developments will depend on the security arrangements, participation of supporting organisations and any action taken by authorities before the scheduled protest.
