Kumar Bahukhandi
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi speaks to journalists from a police vehicle after being detained during an INDIA bloc protest near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Opposition leaders were protesting against the electoral-roll revision process and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Photo: Reuters
Opposition leaders stopped while heading for protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation; confrontation marks second consecutive day of demonstrations in Delhi
Key Highlights
- Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra detained by Delhi Police during Wednesday’s protest.
- INDIA bloc MPs were heading towards Jantar Mantar after a meeting in central Delhi.
- Opposition is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and opposing the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Protesters staged a sit-in after being stopped from proceeding towards Jantar Mantar.
- Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were taken away in separate police vehicles.
- The confrontation followed Tuesday’s prolonged protest near Akashvani Bhawan.
New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several INDIA bloc leaders were detained by Delhi Police on Wednesday after their attempt to proceed towards Jantar Mantar for a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was stopped.
The fresh confrontation came a day after Opposition MPs staged a prolonged protest near Akashvani Bhawan while demanding a meeting with Election Commission officials.
On Wednesday, Opposition MPs had gathered for a lunch meeting in central Delhi before proceeding in buses towards Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site. Police stopped their movement, following which several leaders and supporters gathered on the road and began a sit-in.
Rahul Gandhi had earlier told reporters that the Opposition intended to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar after being prevented from carrying out its protest the previous day. The protesters are demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over allegations concerning electoral-roll revisions and are opposing the Special Intensive Revision process. The Election Commission and the BJP have denied allegations of wrongdoing.
As the standoff intensified, security personnel removed Rahul Gandhi from the protest site and put him inside a police bus. Priyanka Gandhi and other women leaders, who had sat or lain on the road during the demonstration, were subsequently removed by women police personnel and taken away in buses.
Visuals from the scene showed Rahul Gandhi surrounded by journalists, cameras and security personnel as he was taken away.
The demonstrations have now continued for a second consecutive day. On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other Opposition leaders had sought to march towards the Election Commission headquarters. After being stopped, some leaders entered the vicinity of Akashvani Bhawan and continued their protest for several hours before being detained later in the evening.
Delhi Police subsequently registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and others over their alleged unauthorised entry into the Akashvani Bhawan premises during Tuesday’s protest.
Wednesday’s action again brought the Opposition and police face to face, with INDIA bloc leaders maintaining that they would continue raising their objections to the electoral-roll revision and pressing their demand for the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation.
