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Delhi Police clash with opposition members as the INDIA bloc march to the Election Commission is halted, resulting in the detention of MPs demanding CEC's resignation.
The opposition INDIA bloc march to the Election Commission headquarters was halted by Delhi Police, leading to the detention of several Members of Parliament, including prominent leaders from the Congress party. The protest, which began from Parliament, was intended to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid allegations of electoral irregularities.
Senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were among those stopped as they attempted to reach the Election Commission office. Despite being prevented from proceeding further, the opposition members staged a sit-in near the site, raising slogans and displaying cutouts alleging the CEC’s bias. The situation escalated as police used heavy barricades to block the route, resulting in scuffles between the Youth Congress activists and law enforcement personnel.
The march faced significant opposition from law enforcement authorities, who had prepared for the event by securing the area around Rajiv Chowk and other key locations in the national capital. Delhi Traffic Police had issued an advisory on Tuesday, warning commuters of expected diversions and congestion starting from 8 a.m. around Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, and Windsor Place-GPO. Despite these warnings, a large contingent of 237 MPs from 19 parties joined the protest, although MPs from the DMK and AAP did not participate.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra exited their bus to proceed on foot toward the Akashwani Bhawan, where protesting MPs were being lodged. They were seen climbing atop police barricades to demonstrate defiance. However, Delhi Police eventually detained them along with other opposition leaders. Similarly, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee were detained on another bus. Senior Congress leader and General Secretary K.C. Venugopal also climbed onto the grills of the Akashwani Bhawan, refusing police negotiations to leave the premises.
The number of protesters continued to grow as police filled available buses to transport the detained MPs. At one point, two buses were reported to be fully packed with opposition parliamentarians at the site. Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge left the protest site due to illness, while Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil criticized the overwhelming police force used against the protesters, calling for a peaceful resolution.
The Congress party has intensified its critique of the Election Commission, labeling the West Bengal assembly polls as a "textbook case of mass manipulation and rigging" overseen by Gyanesh Kumar. Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, shared screenshots of media reports highlighting gaps in a digital portal used by tribunals to process appeals related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He alleged that more than a dozen tribunals in West Bengal, appointed by the Supreme Court, identified glaring issues in the portal managed by the Election Commission’s IT division.
Opposition leaders used the platform to accuse the BJP of undermining democracy. Abhishek Banerjee raised slogans such as “BJP hai CEC hai” and “Vote chor, gaddi chhod” during the sit-in. Meanwhile, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) confirmed its MPs' participation following directions from party president Naveen Patnaik, citing concerns over the CEC’s role in the SIR exercise. Akhilesh Yadav criticized the Election Commission, stating it appeared to believe only BJP members were entitled to vote, and highlighted instances of booth capturing in Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
In response, the BJP strongly condemned the opposition’s actions. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra accused Rahul Gandhi of attempting to spread confusion and boost his political profile by misquoting the Supreme Court. Patra clarified that the Supreme Court had only issued notices regarding a PIL on Form 6 and had not declared the form illegal. He asserted that the Congress was resorting to anarchy to launch Rahul Gandhi politically at any cost.
The tensions surrounding the Election Commission extended beyond the immediate protest site. Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), alleged that activists were receiving notices from the Chandrapur police, pressuring them not to participate in a planned agitation in New Delhi on October 10. He criticized the Maharashtra Police and the Delhi Police for intimidating workers and inquiring about the source of travel expenses.
The protest highlighted deep divisions within the political landscape regarding electoral integrity. The presence of the Gandhi siblings and other high-profile leaders underscored the Congress party’s determination to challenge the current electoral authorities. However, the heavy security presence and subsequent detentions demonstrated the state’s firm stance against unauthorized gatherings in sensitive areas.
As the opposition MPs remain in custody, the situation underscores the ongoing conflict between political parties and electoral regulators. The Congress party’s allegations of rigging and the BJP’s accusations of political maneuvering reflect a broader struggle over the credibility of the electoral process in India. The upcoming hearing by the Supreme Court on the PIL related to Form 6 may provide further clarity on the legal dimensions of these disputes.
The detention of MPs and leaders during the march to the Election Commission highlights the intensifying political standoff over electoral reforms. The opposition’s demand for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar and the BJP’s defensive rhetoric suggest that this conflict will persist. Future developments will likely depend on the Supreme Court’s ruling on the PIL and whether the opposition sustains its agitation tactics or shifts to legal channels. The heavy police response indicates a zero-tolerance approach to protests in the capital, potentially influencing how future political dissent is managed.
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