New Delhi, October 7, 2026: Political tensions intensified in the national capital on Wednesday as INDIA bloc leaders and opposition MPs took to the streets demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over their concerns surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, along with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several opposition MPs, attempted to move towards Jantar Mantar for a protest. Delhi Police stopped the group before it could reach the designated demonstration site.
Rahul Gandhi and several other protesters were subsequently detained by police. The detention came a day after opposition leaders had also been detained following a protest near the Election Commission’s office.
Opposition targets Election Commission over SIR
The INDIA bloc has accused the Election Commission of serious irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls and has demanded that the SIR exercise be scrapped.
The opposition has also intensified its demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, alleging that the process could affect voters and electoral representation. The Election Commission and the BJP have rejected allegations of wrongdoing.
Gandhi said the opposition would continue its campaign until its demands were addressed, framing the dispute as a broader fight over electoral rights and democratic institutions.
Protesters stopped near Jantar Mantar
The opposition had planned to hold its demonstration at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest location in central Delhi. However, heavy police deployment and barricading restricted the movement of the protesters.
As the group approached the area, a confrontation developed between police personnel and protesters. Several opposition leaders were taken into custody as police attempted to disperse the gathering.
The episode resulted in a significant security presence across parts of central Delhi, with roads around the protest area affected by the movement of protesters and police.
INDIA bloc leaders meet before protest
Earlier in the day, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hosted a meeting with opposition MPs at a restaurant in Janpath. Leaders from several INDIA bloc parties attended the gathering before the protest.
The meeting was aimed at coordinating the opposition’s next steps over the Election Commission controversy and the SIR exercise.
However, the absence of some INDIA bloc constituents also highlighted differences within the alliance over the timing and coordination of the latest protest.
Election Commission maintains its position
The Election Commission has rejected allegations that political parties were denied access to the poll panel and has maintained that the electoral-roll revision is part of its effort to ensure accurate voter lists.
The BJP has also dismissed the opposition’s allegations.
The dispute has now moved beyond a political disagreement inside Parliament, with repeated street protests, police detentions and competing claims about the credibility of the electoral-roll revision.
Protests likely to continue
Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders have indicated that the campaign will continue until their demands are addressed.
Meanwhile, youth groups and other organisations have announced further demonstrations in Delhi in the coming days, keeping the political pressure on the Election Commission alive.
The developments are likely to keep the SIR process, electoral-roll management and the independence of the Election Commission at the centre of India’s political debate in the days ahead.
CloudAsia News | New Delhi
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