INDIA Block Protest: Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi March Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

The political atmosphere in Delhi intensified on Tuesday, October 6, as leaders of the INDIA block took to the streets to protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI). The opposition alliance organized a massive march from the Parliament House to the Election Commission headquarters, raising serious concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the overall functioning of the poll body. Prominent leaders including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav participated in the demonstration, which saw a significant turnout of representatives from 19 opposition parties.

The March and Key Demands

The protest began around 10:30 AM when Members of Parliament from various opposition parties gathered at the Makar Dwar of the Parliament House. From there, they initiated a 3 kilometer long march towards the ECI headquarters. The protesters were seen carrying posters with the slogan Save My Vote and were vocal in their demand for the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The opposition has accused the Election Commission of manipulating voter lists, which they claim undermines the democratic process.

High Drama and Police Confrontation

As the march progressed, security forces intercepted the protesters to prevent them from reaching the ECI office, while this led to a tense standoff between the police and the political leaders. During the confrontation, Rahul Gandhi was seen climbing over police barricades and hoisting the national flag, the Tricolor, as a mark of protest. Following the clash, both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra sat on a dharna on the road. They were briefly taken into custody by the police but were released shortly after. Following their release, the leaders, accompanied by Deepender Hooda, entered the Akashvani Bhavan as they continued their efforts to reach the Election Commission office.

Social Media Reaction and Direct Message

Rahul Gandhi took to social media to express his discontent, directly addressing the Chief Election Commissioner. In a post, he stated, "Gyanesh, its done, bro, while " This statement reflected the aggressive stance the opposition has adopted against the current leadership of the Election Commission. The protesters continued to chant slogans against Gyanesh Kumar throughout the demonstration, highlighting their lack of confidence in his neutrality.

Security Arrangements and Deployment

In anticipation of the protest, the Delhi Police had made extensive security arrangements. Over 3000 police personnel were deployed across New Delhi district, particularly around Parliament Street, the Election Commission office, and Jantar Mantar. The deployment included 27 male companies and 4 female companies of security forces. Given that a single company typically consists of 100 to 115 personnel, the total force on the ground was substantial. Multiple layers of barricading were placed at strategic locations to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incidents.

Participating Parties and Notable Absentees

A total of 19 parties joined the march, showing a united front against the ECI. The participants included major national and regional players such as the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress (TMC), NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT), and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Leftist parties like the CPM, CPI, CPI-ML, RSP, and All India Forward Block were also present. Regional representation came from the National Conference (NC) and PDP of Jammu and Kashmir, along with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (M), Kerala Congress (J), MDMK, and VCK. However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the DMK chose to stay away from the march. AAP stated that it's fighting its own battle independently.

Future Roadmap of Protests

The march is part of a larger series of planned agitations by the INDIA block. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had previously outlined the schedule, stating that the protest against alleged "vote theft" would continue at various levels. Following the march on October 6, the alliance plans to hold Padyatras and meetings at the district level until October 8. From October 10 to October 20, block-level meetings are scheduled. Also, from October 25 to November 25, "Save Vote, Save Country" rallies will be organized at the state and district levels, including Chaupals in every village. The primary objective of this month-long campaign is to gather information regarding the 135000000 voters whose names are allegedly missing from the electoral rolls.

Gyanesh, it’s done, bro. Time to resign. #IndiaAllianceMarch https://t.co/9ZB6aJfakl

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 6, 2026

#WATCH | Delhi | Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule, along with many INDIA bloc MPs, protest march to Election Commission of India https://t.co/ltvjHtKr6c

— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2026