INDIA bloc MPs tried to push open the gates of Akashvani Bhawan on Tuesday as they intensified their protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Holding Tricolours and banners reading "Save democracy", the INDIA bloc MPs began their protest march from Parliament towards the ECI headquarters. Opposition leaders raised slogans against the CEC, BJP and RSS as they marched towards Nirvachan Sadan.
In view of the protest, Delhi Police and other security forces were placed on alert, while barricades were set up outside the ECI office. Around 4,000 Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel were deployed across the New Delhi district to maintain law and order.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and several other INDIA bloc leaders were briefly detained after they were stopped from heading towards the ECI's office.
BREAKING ? Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Vadra try to enter Akashvani Bhawan, prevented by police. https://t.co/ScBZuzrlLd
— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) October 6, 2026
Rahul Gandhi was stopped by multiple layers of police barricades while attempting to proceed towards the ECI headquarters. He subsequently climbed onto one of the barricades and waved a large national flag, drawing loud slogans of support from INDIA bloc leaders and workers gathered at the spot.
Police instructed security forces to remain prepared to deal with any situation, with arrangements made to control the crowd and maintain law and order.
"The police's objective is to maintain peace and order during the protest and prevent any untoward incidents," officials said.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been imposed in and around Jantar Mantar. Under the provision, restrictions may be imposed on certain activities and gatherings in the area. The administration has appealed to the public to follow the prescribed rules and cooperate with the security arrangements.
Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the Opposition would continue its fight to "save democracy" and asserted that the INDIA bloc was determined to continue its protest.
"This is a fight; we will keep fighting, and we will throw these thieves out. We are fully determined to save democracy, and we are fighting for democracy and nothing else," Kharge said.
INDIA bloc's protest against ECI
The march comes amid an escalating political row between the Opposition and the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and changes linked to Form 6, the statutory application used by citizens to register as voters.
The INDIA bloc has been demanding Gyanesh Kumar's removal and has raised questions over the functioning of the poll panel and the electoral-roll revision process.
The Supreme Court on Monday clarified that it had not approved any modified version of Form 6 and sought records from the Election Commission to establish who authorised the changes. The ECI, however, maintained that the SIR declaration attached to Form 6 had been upheld by the Supreme Court and that the SIR order in Bihar was approved unanimously by the Commission.
The Supreme Court's clarification further intensified the Opposition's criticism of the Election Commission. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the poll panel of illegally changing Form 6, while the ECI described his statement as misleading and reiterated its position on the SIR declaration.
The protests have also extended beyond the INDIA bloc. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by Abhijeet Dipke, has been holding demonstrations against Gyanesh Kumar and questioning the changes to Form 6. The party has demanded accountability from the Election Commission following the Supreme Court's observations.
Meanwhile, Congress has announced a wider nationwide protest campaign under the banner "Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao". The party plans to hold block-level protests, padyatras and other demonstrations while demanding the removal of Gyanesh Kumar and restoration of eligible voters whose names it claims were deleted from electoral rolls.
The latest march marks another escalation in the ongoing confrontation between Opposition parties and the Election Commission, with the dispute over SIR, electoral rolls and Form 6 also being examined by the Supreme Court.
