Opposition MPs Detained in March Demanding Election Chief's Resignation

Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc marched from Parliament toward the Election Commission headquarters on Tuesday but were halted by police on Parliament Street near the NITI Aayog office. Leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra then staged a sit-in protest on the road.

Police detained several leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O'Brien. Rahul Gandhi and Abhishek Banerjee climbed onto a police barricade, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was briefly placed in a bus before rejoining colleagues at the Akashvani Bhawan gate.

“Gyanesh, it's done bro. Time to resign.”

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Congress MP Deepender Hooda entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises and sat under a tree, refusing police orders to leave. Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma arrived with a large force to evict them.

Protesters carried cutouts depicting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in an RSS uniform and chanted slogans such as "BJP hai CEC hai" and "Democracy not for sale." Rahul Gandhi posted on X: "Gyanesh it's done bro. Time to resign."

The demonstration follows an Indian Express report alleging unilateral changes to voter registration Form 6 and Supreme Court observations questioning the commission's process. The ECI has rejected wrongdoing allegations, stating the revision ensures electoral roll integrity.