Several Opposition leaders detained during their march to Election Commission office

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 6, 2026: Several Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O’Brien, were detained on Tuesday after police stopped an I.N.D.I.A. bloc march towards the Election Commission, following which the protesters staged a dharna demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi joined the march from the Parliament House complex. The march was stopped on Parliament Street near the NITI Aayog office, between NITI Aayog and Akashvani Bhawan.

Gandhi climbed the barricades and waved the Tricolour as security personnel prevented the protesters from moving towards the Election Commission headquarters.

Yadav, Banerjee, O’Brien, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, Congress MP Jothimani and several other Opposition leaders were detained and taken away in buses.

“We are being detained and taken to an unknown location,” Ghose posted on X.

Kharge said the Opposition would continue its protest to protect voting rights and democracy.

“This protest will continue. We are doing this to protect your vote and your freedom,” he said.

Kharge alleged that people across the country were reporting deletion of their votes and claimed that “vote theft” was taking place. He said the Opposition would continue its fight to protect voters’ rights.

According to Kharge, protecting democracy was the Opposition’s primary objective, with the demand for Kumar’s resignation being a subsequent issue.

“It is not just the people of the INDIA bloc who are here; everyone has gathered here because they feel that their vote is being taken away and their freedom is being lost,” he said.

Yadav accused the Election Commission of acting with bias and called for impartial decision-making.

“It is not a new thing that allegations have been made against the Election Commission. It should take impartial decisions that do not appear biased. The BJP should set up its office in the Election Commission,” he said, according to PTI.

“The Election Commission is deciding who will remain a citizen of India. Just think about it,” Yadav alleged.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant also criticised Kumar, alleging that the Chief Election Commissioner was “corrupt” and had “worked as a slave of the ruling party.”