Rahul Gandhi Detained, Released Later During ECI March To Demand Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation

Last Updated:October 06, 2026, 12:57 IST

Gyanesh Kumar SIR row: INDIA bloc leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant, join sit-in; AAP, DMK skip march

Rahul on barricade

High drama ensued in New Delhi on Tuesday, as Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi scaled a barricade and waved the tri-color during INDIA Bloc’s protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

The Congress leader was later detained by Delhi police. Gandhi was taken into custody alongside Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, and several other senior opposition MPs during the INDIA bloc’s ‘Save Democracy’ protest march.

The leaders were marching from Parliament towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter roll manipulation.

Police blocked the march near Parliament Street using heavy barricades. Authorities stated that no formal permission had been sought for a mass demonstration and that permission was restricted to only 30 MPs entering the ECI premises, whereas over 200 had assembled.

Following a brief standoff where leaders staged a dharna (sit-in protest) on the road, they were escorted away in police buses and later released.

The opposition’s outrage stems from alleged discrepancies and “vote theft” linked to the ECI’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The alliance claims the revisions risk massive, unfair deletions of voters.

Rahul Gandhi took to the social platform X, stating, “Gyanesh, it’s done, bro. Time to resign”. During the march, some opposition lawmakers carried visual cutouts depicting the CEC dressed in an RSS uniform.

Prominent opposition leaders joined the sit-in, including Priyanka Gandhi VadraSamajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant.

While the joint protest was heavily promoted, key alliance partners like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chose to skip the march.

Delhi Police deployed heavy security, drones, and anti-riot Vajra vehicles to contain the march near the NITI Aayog office. Both the Election Commission and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have previously dismissed the opposition’s allegations of systemic electoral manipulation, defending the integrity of the polling panel.

This march is part of a broader, week-long nationwide agitation organized by the INDIA bloc running from October 2 to October 8.

EC REBUTS RAHUL GANDHI’S CLAIMS

The Election Commission of India has hit back against allegations made by Gandhi over the use of Form 6 in the voter enrolment process, seeking to clarify what the form is meant for and how applications are processed.

It stated in a post on X: “The order for SIR in Bihar issued on 24 June 2025 was issued with the unanimous approval of the Commission. This order has been upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in its judgment dated 27 May 2026. In its Press Note No. 120 dated 26 September 2026, in Point 1(iii), ECI has stated that, “The declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR has been upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court.” The statement made in this [Rahul Gandhi’s] post is misleading.”

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Why did Rahul Gandhi and INDIA bloc MPs stage a dharna on Parliament Street?

Opposition leaders staged a sit-in protest after security personnel blocked their “Save Democracy” march toward the Election Commission headquarters, following outrage over alleged voter roll discrepancies linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Which prominent alliance partners skipped the October 6 protest march in New Delhi?

While the joint protest led by the INDIA bloc was heavily promoted, key alliance partners including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chose to skip the march.

What is the duration of the nationwide agitation organized by the opposition alliance?

The protest march in New Delhi forms part of a broader, week-long nationwide agitation organized by the INDIA bloc running from October 2 to October 8, 2026.

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