Delhi Metro stations closed today: six shut till 4pm for opposition march against CEC
By Shamyak
Published
Rajiv Chowk and five other stations are shut for entry and exit from 6am to 4pm on 12 October. Why the opposition targets the election chief, and what it would actually take to remove him.
Original report
As of 12 October 2026, 10:00 IST
Six Delhi Metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat, are closed for entry and exit from 6am to 4pm on 12 October 2026, according to a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) notice reported by ANI (ANI, 2026a). The closures come ahead of an opposition march to the Supreme Court against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, PTI reported (PTI, 2026).
Commuters can still change trains at all six stations, because interchange facilities stay open, the DMRC said (ANI, 2026a). The open question for anyone heading into central Delhi is whether the 4pm reopening holds: the DMRC said the "situation will be reviewed by security agencies" (PTI, 2026).
What we know
- Closed for entry and exit from 6am to 4pm on 12 October: Patel Chowk, Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat and Barakhamba Road (ANI, 2026a; Khanam, 2026).
- That is 6 stations shut for 10 hours, per the DMRC notice (ANI, 2026a).
- Traffic has been diverted across New Delhi and Central Delhi, ANI reported in the Deccan Chronicle (ANI, 2026b).
- The Sunday Guardian put the number of affected traffic points in central Delhi at 30; we found that figure in that one outlet only (Khanam, 2026).
The closures are about security. The march itself is about one official.
The opposition wants the election chief to resign
The Congress-led INDIA bloc accuses Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the voter lists, PTI and ANI reported on 12 October (PTI, 2026; ANI, 2026b). These are allegations; no source we read says any have been proved.
Business Today alone reported three demands: the CEC's resignation, a halt to the roll revision and a return to paper ballots (Business Today Desk, 2026). It also reported that the Chief Justice declined to meet Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, saying the court is "accessible around the clock". We set out what is on record about that in CJI Surya Kant declines Rahul Gandhi meeting; the reasons come from unnamed sources.
A resignation is voluntary. Forcing a CEC out is far harder.
Removing a CEC works like removing a Supreme Court judge
Under Article 324(5) of India's Constitution, a Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only in the manner and on the grounds that apply to a Supreme Court judge: proved misbehaviour or incapacity (Rau's IAS, n.d.; Drishti IAS, 2023). Parliament must pass the removal, and the President then issues the order.
- A removal motion needs 100 Lok Sabha members or 50 Rajya Sabha members to move it, according to Rau's IAS; we found this detail in that one source (Rau's IAS, n.d.).
- The same source says it then needs two-thirds of members present in each House.
- The other Election Commissioners can be removed only on the CEC's recommendation (Drishti IAS, 2023).
No source we read reports that a removal motion has been filed. How outlets told the day's story also differed.
Five outlets, five angles on the same closure
- Business Today framed it as an escalating street protest over alleged electoral discrepancies.
- The Free Press Journal, carrying ANI, led on the security response to a Congress march.
- Greater Kashmir, carrying PTI, called it a routine security measure before the protest.
- The Deccan Chronicle, carrying ANI, wrote it as a commuter advisory.
- The Sunday Guardian focused on the full station list and interchange options.
See how every outlet covered it. For the earlier march, read Rahul Gandhi detained at INDIA bloc's ECI march: 8 headlines said detained, 1 arrested.
What we don't know yet
- Whether the closures will run past 4pm, after the security review the DMRC flagged (PTI, 2026).
- How the march ends, and whether anyone is detained.
- Whether the opposition files a petition. Business Today reported it was advised to file one for a hearing on 13 October (Business Today Desk, 2026).
Questions people are asking
Which Delhi Metro stations are closed today?
Patel Chowk, Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat and Barakhamba Road, from 6am to 4pm on 12 October, per the DMRC notice (ANI, 2026a).
Can I still change trains at Rajiv Chowk?
Yes. The DMRC said interchange facilities stay available at all six stations (ANI, 2026a).
Can the Chief Election Commissioner be removed?
Yes, but only in the way a Supreme Court judge is: by Parliament, on proved misbehaviour or incapacity, followed by a Presidential order (Rau's IAS, n.d.).
Why is the opposition protesting?
It alleges irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls and wants the CEC to resign (PTI, 2026; Business Today Desk, 2026).
What happens next
The DMRC review after 4pm on 12 October decides whether the six stations reopen on time. Business Today reported a possible petition hearing on 13 October.
References
- ANI (2026a) Delhi Metro Closes Entry, Exit At 6 Stations Including Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat. Free Press Journal. Available at: Delhi Metro Closes Entry, Exit At 6 Stations (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
- ANI (2026b) Delhi Metro Shuts Six Stations Amid Congress' Call for Protest March. Deccan Chronicle. Available at: Delhi Metro Shuts Six Stations Amid Congress' Call for Protest March (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
- Business Today Desk (2026) Delhi Metro closes 6 major stations ahead of Opposition's Supreme Court march today. Business Today. Available at: Delhi Metro closes 6 major stations ahead of Opposition's Supreme Court march today (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
- Drishti IAS (2023) The CEC and Other ECs (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023. Drishti IAS. Available at: The CEC and Other ECs Bill, 2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
- Khanam, Z. (2026) Delhi Metro Update Today: 6 Stations To Remain Closed For Entry And Exit Until 4 PM On October 12. Sunday Guardian. Available at: Delhi Metro Update Today: 6 Stations To Remain Closed (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
- PTI (2026) Delhi Metro shuts entry, exit at six stations ahead of Congress' protest. Greater Kashmir. Available at: Delhi Metro shuts entry, exit at six stations ahead of Congress' protest (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
- Rau's IAS (n.d.) Removal Process of Chief Election Commissioner of India. Rau's IAS Compass. Available at: Removal Process of Chief Election Commissioner of India (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
How we did this
On 12 October we read the DMRC closure notice as carried by ANI in the Free Press Journal and the Deccan Chronicle, and by PTI in Greater Kashmir. We compared those with Business Today and the Sunday Guardian, and noted each outlet's headline angle. For the removal procedure we read explainers of Article 324(5) and the 2023 law on Election Commissioners by Rau's IAS and Drishti IAS; we did not open the Constitution's text itself. Facts found in one outlet only are marked as such.
This story was produced, reviewed, edited and verified by the reporter before publication, with AI assistance where required.
Covered by 7 outlets across the spectrum: 14% left, 57% center, 29% right.
Who is covering this story
- Left-leaning (1): greaterkashmir
- Center (3): Rau's IAS, Business Today, Free Press Journal
- Right-leaning (2): Sunday Guardian, Deccan Chronicle
- Not yet rated (1): Drishti IAS
Sources
- Removal Process of Chief Election Commissioner of India - Rau's IAS — Rau's IAS (center) ·
- Delhi Metro Update Today: 6 Stations To Remain Closed For Entry And Exit Until 4 PM On October 12 Ahead Of Opposition Protest; Check Full List Of Affected Stations And Interchange Facilities — Sunday Guardian (right-leaning) ·
- Delhi metro closes 6 major stations ahead of Opposition's Supreme Court march today - BusinessToday — Business Today (center) ·
- Delhi Metro Shuts Six Stations Amid Congress — Deccan Chronicle (right-leaning) ·
- The ces and other ecs appointment conditions of service and term of office bill — Drishti IAS (not yet rated) ·
- Delhi Metro Closes Entry, Exit At 6 Stations Including Rajiv Chowk & Central Secretariat Amid Congress’ Supreme Court March | Video — Free Press Journal (center) ·
- Delhi Metro shuts entry, exit at six stations ahead of Congress' protest — greaterkashmir (left-leaning, AI-estimated) ·