‘Gyanesh Kumar Is Scared’: Rahul Gandhi Questions EC At Oppn Protest, Says ‘Standing Here To Save Democracy’

Last Updated:October 06, 2026, 3:00 PM IST

The demonstration was organised amid the opposition’s demand for Kumar’s resignation over allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi waves the national flag while standing atop police barricades during a protest march from Parliament towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) office, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. (Source: PTI)

High drama unfolded in Delhi on Tuesday as INDIA bloc MPs protesting against the Election Commission were stopped during their march from Parliament Street towards the poll panel’s headquarters.

Rahul Gandhi questioned why elected MPs were not being allowed to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other officials.

Speaking during the protest, Gandhi said the opposition MPs had come to meet the CEC and his colleagues but were stopped by the police.

“Lok Sabha MPs were here. We wanted to meet the CEC and his subordinates. Police stopped us,” he said.

Questioning the restrictions, the Congress leader said there was no reason for the elected representatives to be denied a meeting with the poll panel.

“We don’t know why we can’t meet the CEC. We are democratically elected representatives,” he added.

Also Read: SIR Row: Rahul Gandhi Held Dharna, Abhijeet Dipke’s CJP Took To The Streets, INDIA Bloc Moved SC, What Next?

He then directly questioned Kumar’s conduct, saying, “Gyanesh Kumar is scared. What’s happening in the country?”

‘Standing Here To Save Democracy’

“If CEC cannot meet democratically elected MPs, then what’s the meaning of democracy?” he said.

He said the opposition leaders would continue to remain at the protest site in defence of democratic institutions.

“I am standing here to save democracy. All MPs are here standing to save the democracy,” he said.

Gandhi went on to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that they had undermined democracy.

“PM Modi, Home Minister Mohan Bhagwat and Gyanesh Kumar have finished the democracy,” the Leader of Opposition said.

He said that PM Modi, Shah, and the RSS chief have ‘hijacked’ the country through ‘vote chori’ carried out by the CEC and warned that all of them will face action

He further asserted that those responsible would eventually face accountability.

“Not even a single person can run away. Nobody can escape. This is treason against the country,” he added.

INDIA Bloc March Stopped Near Akashvani Bhawan

The protest began after opposition MPs assembled at Parliament’s Makar Dwar and set off towards Nirvachan Sadan, the Election Commission headquarters.

The demonstration was organised amid the opposition’s demand for Kumar’s resignation over allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Also Read: ‘Gyanesh, Time To Resign’: Rahul Gandhi’s Tricolour Wave To Detention & Release, SIR March Sees High Drama

Police halted the march near Akashvani Bhawan and the NITI Aayog office. Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other opposition leaders subsequently sat on the road after being prevented from moving ahead.

Gandhi and Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee were seen climbing onto a police barricade, while Priyanka Gandhi was taken towards a waiting bus after being detained. She later got off the bus and joined her brother near the Akashvani gate.

The Gandhi siblings, along with Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda, later entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises through the reception gate. Police asked the protesters to vacate the area, but they remained there and insisted that they wanted to proceed to the Election Commission office.

The protesting MPs carried cutouts depicting Kumar in an RSS uniform and raised slogans such as “BJP hi CEC hai”, “Vote chor, gaddi chhod” and “Democracy not for sale.”

Gandhi had earlier targeted the CEC in a post on X, writing: “Gyanesh, it’s done bro. Time to resign”.

Several opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and TMC MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O’Brien, were detained after police stopped the march.

BJD MPs also joined the demonstration. Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said the participation reflected opposition solidarity against what the party calls irregularities in the electoral process.

With inputs from PTI

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Why did INDIA bloc MPs march towards the Election Commission headquarters?

Opposition MPs marched towards Nirvachan Sadan to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and irregularities in the electoral process.

What actions did police take against the protesting opposition leaders in Delhi?

Police halted the march near Akashvani Bhawan and the NITI Aayog office. Several leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, Abhishek Banerjee, and Derek O’Brien, were detained after being stopped, while Priyanka Gandhi was briefly taken towards a waiting bus before rejoining her brother.

What specific allegations did Rahul Gandhi make against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar?

Rahul Gandhi accused Gyanesh Kumar of undermining democracy, rigging elections, and committing treason through vote theft, while alleging that he was placed in charge of poll match-fixing by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

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Prisha Vibhavari

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