Opposition MPs Detained as Protestors Demand Election Chief Resign

Tue Oct 06 2026 11:12:06 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Indian opposition lawmakers, led by Rahul Gandhi, were detained while marching to the Election Commission over voter‑roll changes, sparking a national rally.

Police in Delhi detained a group of opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, during a protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. The march was halted when authorities moved the lawmakers onto a bus, but activists resumed their sit‑in near the Commission’s office. The clash stems from a nationwide voter‑roll revision that the opposition argues disproportionately affects its supporters. The Supreme Court has called for an explanation from the Election Commission, raising questions about the chief’s authority. The protest underscores growing tensions over electoral integrity in India.

Opposition MPs Detained as Protestors Demand Election Chief Resign

Police in Delhi seized a group of opposition lawmakers — including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka — as they marched toward the Election Commission headquarters demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign over the controversial voter‑roll revision.

The police moved the detained MPs onto a bus, releasing them shortly thereafter and allowing the march to resume. A sit‑in commenced near the Commission’s office, drawing crowds of supporters and media.

The protest is tied to the Election Commission’s special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a campaign that has removed over 130 million names since it began in Bihar in 2025. While the Commission says it aims to eliminate duplicates and ineligible voters, opposition parties accuse it of favouring the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Earlier investigations highlighted formal objections from election commissioners who claimed their approvals were overlooked in key decisions, amplifying calls for Kumar’s resignation and the cancellation of the SIR exercise.

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to both the federal government and the Election Commission, demanding an explanation of whether Kumar acted without the unanimous consent of the body. It declined to suspend the chief but will review the commission’s response before deciding on further action.