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‘Gyanesh, it’s done, bro’: INDIA bloc heads to EC demanding CEC’s resignation; MPs detained

The opposition's march comes a day after Supreme Court proceedings, where a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that it had never approved a modified version of Form 6.

South First Desk

Published Oct 06, 2026 | 1:02 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 06, 2026 | 1:17 PM

INDIA bloc march to ECI headquarters

INDIA bloc march to ECI headquarters

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Synopsis: Around noon, amid heavy security deployed and Opposition MPs detained by Delhi police, LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tried to enter the Akashvani Bhawan premises to reach the Election Commission headquarters.

“Gyanesh, it’s done, bro”, proclaimed a placard held by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi as INDIA bloc MPs took to the streets of the national capital on Tuesday, marching from Parliament toward the Election Commission headquarters to demand the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) over alleged manipulation of electoral rolls.

At around 12:30 PM, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress leaders Derek O’Brien, Abhishek Banerjee, and other opposition leaders were detained and taken in a bus after Delhi police stopped the INDIA bloc’s protest march on Parliament Street.

The Opposition leaders were flanked by police and paramilitary forces during their march. The demonstration follows an Indian Express expose that decisions, including the addition of a question in the controversial Form 6, had been made by the Election Commission despite the other two Election Commissioners not agreeing. The Supreme Court had also on Monday made it clear that it never validated changes made to Form 6, the statutory document used for voter registration.

While most of the alliance partners have participated in the march, MPs from AAP and DMK have remained absent.

The DMK was a notable absentee from the march. Its leader TKS Elangovan said, “We are no longer part of the alliance, and they don’t invite us either.”

“However, when it comes to Parliament, we will oppose Gyanesh Kumar. Our stand is that he should step down from the post,” Elangovan added.

Heavy security; MPs detained

According to The Hindu report, the march began amid heavy security deployment and barricading in and around Parliament and the Election Commission headquarters. Security personnel were stationed in the area much before the MPs began arriving. A heavy presence of RAF (Rapid Action Force) personnel was seen around the Akashvani and the ECI headquarters area.

Around noon, amid heavy security deployed and Opposition MPs detained by Delhi police, LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tried to enter the Akashvani Bhawan premises to reach the Election Commission headquarters.

Earlier, according to the visuals coming from the protest site, Rahul Gandhi and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee climbed onto barricades as the security forces stopped the marching MPs from reaching the ECI headquarters.

Also Read: Indira Gandhi, Narendra Modi and the march of folly: The same mistake, fifty years apart

‘One person has broken that trust’

Speaking to PTI Videos before the march began, Congress MP Imran Masood lashed out at the CEC, accusing him of dismantling the credibility of India’s electoral machinery.

“Across the country, the institution that Gyanesh Kumar headed was an institution the entire country trusted, an institution the entire country took pride in and felt proud of,” Masood said. “Questions were never raised over its impartiality. One person has broken that trust.”

“An entire nexus is working together,” he alleged, adding, “We will question Gyanesh Kumar, and the BJP chief ministers will start giving the answers.”

Further, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, speaking to PTI, said, “This protest will continue. We are doing this to protect your vote and your freedom. The people of the country are saying that many of their votes have been deleted and vote theft is taking place, and we are fighting and will continue to fight for their protection. The priority is to save democracy, and after that comes the question of his resignation. We will continue to fight to remove these people. It is not just the people of the INDIA bloc who are here; everyone has gathered here because they feel that their vote is being taken away and their freedom is being lost.”

‘We are MPs’: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut slammed the overwhelming security presence around Parliament and the EC office, pointing out that paramilitary units like the BSF and CISF had been brought in and security beefed up near ministers’ residences.

“We are MPs. We are also citizens of this country. Why is there a need to deploy such a large force to stop us?” Raut asked. “We will walk and go. We are unarmed.”

Accusing the CEC of misleading the public over the Supreme Court’s stance on Form 6, Raut declared that Kumar has “no moral right” to remain in office.

Also Read: A journalist’s investigation and how a 2006 suicide case is back to haunt Gyanesh Kumar

The Supreme Court flashpoint

The opposition’s march comes a day after Supreme Court proceedings, where a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that it had never approved a modified version of Form 6. The Court announced it would examine EC records to determine who authorised alterations during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar argued that the apex court’s intervention fully vindicates the opposition’s long-standing concerns. He pointed out that an EC press statement on September 26 had claimed the revised Form 6 process was backed by the Supreme Court—a claim he dismissed as entirely misleading.

Branding the CEC a “Cheating Election Commissioner,” Sandosh Kumar warned that opposition parties, who have been agitating against these provisions since 2025, plan to ramp up their protests.

Also Read: SC didn’t approve modified Form 6: Chief Justice of India discredits Election Commission’s claim

The Election Commission’s stand

The controversy stems from the opposition’s ongoing campaign against the SIR exercise and alleged friction within the three-member poll body. The Commission has repeatedly rejected talk of internal discord, maintaining that all decisions concerning the SIR were made unanimously.

In its September 26 statement, the poll panel had asserted that the contentious declaration attached to Form 6 had been upheld by the Supreme Court, while standard forms under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, remain in use elsewhere.

With the Supreme Court set to scrutinise the poll body’s records on the matter, the political standoff shows no signs of cooling down.

Protests against SIR, CEC

The march is part of the nationwide protests against the SIR and CEC Gyanesh Kumar following the Indian Express report.

Earlier, in the INDIA bloc meeting held on 30 September, the members had announced the march. Along with it, they also announced that district-level Save Democracy marches will be held from October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, to October 8.

Opposition party leaders are also expected to seek an appointment with the President of India in the second week of October. Further the INDIA bloc will organise five major rallies. A major rally will be held in Delhi on November 1, where they will raise issues related to ‘vote theft’.

INDIA bloc’s demands

  • First, the pre-SIR electoral roll to be used for future elections. Complete transparency in every electoral-roll revision, including constituency-wise and booth-wise information on additions, deletions and corrections.
  • Second, due notice, reasons and an effective appeal mechanism before any legitimate voter is removed from the roll.
  • Third, protection of eligible voters from exclusion caused by administrative failures, inadequate documentation or lack of awareness.
  • Fourth, voting through Ballots instead of EVMs.
  • Fifth, simple and accessible voter registration for our young citizens, particularly first-time voters.
  • Sixth, institutional accountability and an Election Commission that commands confidence across the political spectrum.

Also Read: SIR: Telangana CEO orders action over bulk Form 7 filings, Congress seeks SIT probe

(Compiled by Sumavarsha.)

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