INDIA Bloc Protest Updates: Rahul, Priyanka Detained At Akashvani Bhavan Over CEC Resignation Demand

Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra remained seated near the Akashvani Bhavan after being briefly detained during the INDIA bloc MPs’ march from Parliament to the Election Commission.

The Congress leaders along with other MPs were earlier stopped by security personnel on Parliament Street near Niti Aayog office. After being prevented from proceeding further, they sat on the road in protest. Soon Rahul Gandhi and TMC's Abhisekh Banerjee climbed atop a police barricade, while Priyanka Gandhi was taken to an awaiting bus for being detained.

However, she was soon seen alighting from it and joined her brother at the Akashvani gate, according to PTI.

Despite being prevented by police, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Deepinder Hooda entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises from the reception gate. They were later seen sitting under a tree, PTI reported.

Form 6 is the prescribed application through which an eligible Indian citizen seeks inclusion in the electoral roll as a new voter. It is available to citizens who have attained, or will attain, 18 years of age on one of the four qualifying dates — January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1 — provided they are ordinarily resident in the constituency and are not otherwise disqualified.

The form seeks details such as the applicant’s name, date of birth, address and other information required for voter enrolment. It is prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

The legal route is clear. Under Section 11(1) of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, the CEC submits their resignation in writing directly to the President of India.

There is no automatic deputy CEC or automatic acting CEC under the Constitution or the 2023 law, unlike the offices of President or Governors.

CEC row LIVE: During INDIA bloc protest against CEC, Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq says, “ Votes are being looted, democracy is being killed; we demand the resignation of CEC. The country should get justice. Today, we have marched from Parliament, but this could take the shape of a movement, and the whole country will come out on the roads,” reported ANI.

BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi questioned the Congress over the INDIA bloc's protest march to the Election Commission, asking who the party wanted to benefit by giving voting rights to “absent, shifted, dead and duplicate voters” without investigation, according to ANI.

“I would like to clearly ask Congress. Who do they want to benefit by giving voting rights to the absent, shifted, dead and duplicate voters without any investigation? Does the Congress want to benefit someone by doing this?” Trivedi said.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday dismissed the Karnataka Congress' allegations against the BJP over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as “bogus”, defending the process for filing Form 7 objections.

“It's all bogus because they are filing the FIR despite they do not have any power to register the FIR because anybody can give Form 7. Ultimately it is up to the election commission, ERO, who is the state government employee. He can decide it. But with revenge attitude they are all doing this. We strongly condemn that and there is a hope, there is a court and we have confidence that will be quashed. I am very confident on that,” Joshi said.

A police official asked Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) workers gathered outside Akashvani Bhavan to vacate the area, saying prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) are in force. The official said any assembly in the area is illegal and warned that those who do not comply will be detained.

Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) workers gathered outside Akashvani Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday during protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Several protesters were detained by police as security was tightened in the area. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) remain in force in parts of central Delhi amid the demonstrations.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said more than 300 Opposition MPs marched from Parliament to the Election Commission on Tuesday to meet the Election Commissioners.

In a post on X, Gandhi questioned why the Election Commissioners were not meeting the Opposition leaders and alleged that police were stopping and threatening them.

CPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar said the Opposition MPs were prevented from moving forward towards the Election Commission headquarters amid heavy security deployment in central Delhi. He said CRPF, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and other security personnel were deployed to stop the protesters.

“We were refrained from moving forward from the very beginning. There was a huge deployment of security personnel, CRPF, RAF, and other forces,” Sandosh Kumar said.

Police and security personnel were deployed in large numbers around Akashvani Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday as the INDIA bloc protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar continued. A drone was also deployed in the area to monitor the situation, where several Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) workers had gathered.

Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) are in force in the area. Police detained IYC and NSUI workers who had gathered outside Akashvani Bhavan amid heightened security around the protest site.

BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan criticised the INDIA bloc's protest, saying the opposition had no “moral responsibility” to conduct such agitations. She said alleged bogus votes had been removed and argued that those questioning the Election Commission should first look at their own political alliances.

“Those who cannot get the verdict of the people are agitating,” Soundararajan said, according to the statement shared by the BJP leader. She also questioned the demand for resignations and said the Congress government in Kerala and the TVK should resign if the opposition was asking others to step down.

Soundararajan also warned the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) against joining hands with the Congress. She alleged that the Congress had “backstabbed” the DMK and warned that the party could similarly deceive the TVK.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said he did not join the INDIA bloc MPs' protest march to the Election Commission in Delhi because he is not part of the alliance. “Begani shaadi mein mera kya kaam?” he said. Owaisi also criticised the process for selecting the Chief Election Commissioner, calling it “completely in favour of the executive” and demanding that the law be changed. He suggested that the CEC should instead be selected by a panel comprising the Chief Justice of India, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Owaisi also criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying he had raised concerns during the Bihar exercise as well. “This SIR is wrong,” he said, adding that he believed SIR was “an NRC through the backdoor”.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said around 300 Opposition MPs wanted to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the other Election Commissioners but were stopped by police during the INDIA bloc's protest march in New Delhi, according to ANI.

Speaking at the protest, Gandhi questioned why elected representatives were being prevented from reaching the Election Commission office, saying it was only about 50 metres away. He accused the CEC of being “scared” to meet the MPs and alleged that the Election Commission had helped the BJP in what he called “vote chori”. Gandhi said the Opposition was protesting to “save democracy” and warned that action would be taken against those he accused of undermining it.

His remarks came after INDIA bloc MPs were stopped by police near the NITI Aayog office while marching from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters. The MPs subsequently staged a dharna and several Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav and TMC leaders, were detained.

Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore on Tuesday defended the SIR of electoral rolls, saying those opposing it were “taking the wrong path” and creating a false perception about the Election Commission. He said only Indian citizens should have voting rights and questioned the circumstances surrounding Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's inclusion in the electoral roll, alleging she became a voter before acquiring Indian citizenship. A Delhi court last month ordered fresh consideration of a plea seeking an FIR over the allegation; no FIR has been ordered against Gandhi, ANI reported.

Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that through this march, they are "venting their frustration" over their electoral defeats by levelling baseless allegations against the constitutional bodies to malign their image.

"Friends in the opposition, the very system you are questioning is the one under which you won in Kerala. Was that victory illegitimate? You won in Karnataka. Was that victory illegitimate? You won in Himachal. Was that victory illegitimate? Opposition governments were formed in Punjab and Jharkhand; were those victories illegitimate?" the senior BJP leader asked.

Chouhan asserted that accepting defeat is the fundamental spirit of democracy, asking the Congress and its allies to "stop insulting democracy and maligning" democratic institutions.

"If you question constitutional institutions, you will commit the sin of plunging the country into the fires of anarchy. Do not commit the sin of plunging the nation into unrest and anarchy. The country and its people will never forgive you," he added.

-PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat have "hijacked" the country with the help of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar by carrying out "vote chori", and asserted that action will be taken against all of them for committing "treason".

Gandhi asserted that nobody is going to escape accountability.

"I am not interested in what the BJP says. I am standing here to protect democracy in the country. Along with me, 300 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs had come and they are also trying to protect democracy," Gandhi said, addressing reporters from inside the Akashwani Bhawan premises where he was in a standoff with the police in a bid to reach the Election Commission office.

"Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Mohan Bhagwat and CEC Gyanesh Kumar have finished off democracy in the country. The whole country believes this, the youth of the country also believe this. The police people who were stopping me are also saying this. The reality is known to everyone," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.

-PTI

J&K CM Omar Abdullah reacting to the INDIA Bloc protest said, "In the INDIA Bloc meeting convened in the past few days, a calendar was prepared. It began with the MPs' march to the Election Commission, and this will go on... It had been advocated earlier, but only few heard. The Supreme Court is now raising questions over the deletion of votes... We will wait to see how this matter will be treated in the court."

Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition was seeking a meeting with the Election Commission to raise questions about free and fair elections and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission was refusing to meet them despite their request to raise questions over the SIR exercise. Referring to the Opposition’s allegations of “vote chori”, he said, “If they had not done 'vote chori', they would have been ready to meet us.”

Gandhi also objected to being moved by police from one location to another during the protest. Addressing police officers, he said, “I have told the police officers that I was sitting there earlier. You removed me from there. Now I have come here. You want to remove me from here...”

He added, “If you want to remove me from here, remove me from here. But tell me, where can I sit in this country?”

Traffic snarls were reported on Mother Teresa Crescent Road as several routes in central Delhi were diverted due to the INDIA bloc protest. Commuters were advised to expect delays in the area.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised Rahul Gandhi and the Congress over the INDIA bloc protest against the Election Commission, calling it “daily drama”. He said the Congress has been attacking the Election Commission and Supreme Court since 2014 and accused the party of blaming institutions when it fails to secure the people’s mandate.

“This daily drama by the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi and his colleagues over the Election Commission and their attacks on the Supreme Court must stop now,” Rijiju said.

He urged Gandhi to “learn from Modi ji” and BJP workers and focus on serving society and the country.

BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress ecosystem of pushing what he called a “fake narrative” over a video involving a Delhi Police officer and a woman journalist. Bhandari said the Delhi Police had clarified that the circulated video was fake and alleged that it was generated using AI by content creator Nadeem Ahmed.

He accused Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Congress Seva Dal of amplifying the video and said this reflected a wider pattern. “Rahul Gandhi's conduct over this lie has become a pattern,” Bhandari said.

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, KC Venugopal and Charanjit Singh Channi, along with other leaders, continued their sit-in protest at the Akashvani Bhawan premises.

Congress leader PC Vishnunath said opposition leaders and youth were on the streets in what he called the “final battle” to protect India’s democracy, amid the protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi.

Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib and other protesters were detained as they continued their protest near the Akashvani Bhawan premises.

Congress protesters brought carpets to the sit-in site inside the Akashvani Bhawan premises. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also seen speaking to a policeman at the site.

Congress MP Shafi Parambil said the INDIA bloc protest was beyond politics and aimed at safeguarding democracy. “We are elected representatives and have not indulged in violence. This protest is beyond politics; it is to safeguard democracy in this country, and it will continue,” he said.

At the Akashvani Bhawan premises during the INDIA bloc protest, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition wants to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and ask questions. “They haven’t understood us yet. We want to make this very clear that we want to meet CEC Gyanesh Kumar… We will sit here. The MPs are disrespected here. We just want to meet and ask questions to CEC Gyanesh Kumar,” Gandhi said.

Leaders of the Congress, National Conference and PDP on Tuesday urged people to join a rally and peaceful march on Wednesday as part of the “save the vote, save democracy” programme. The march will begin at 11 am from Gadri Lal Chowk and culminate at P R Ambedkar Chowk.

Congress leader Yogesh Sahaney urged people to join the protest, while PDP leader Virender Singh Sonu alleged an attempt was being made to undermine people’s “faith in the ballot”. NC leader Chander Mohan said the rally was organised by the INDIA bloc, with the NC and PDP participating.

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi said MPs would meet the Election Commissioners and asserted that the poll panel would have to meet them. “MPs will meet election commissioners; they will have to meet us,” Gandhi said.

At the Akashvani Bhawan premises during the INDIA bloc protest, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi said the MPs want to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and ask questions.

“They haven’t understood us yet. We want to make this very clear that we want to meet CEC Gyanesh Kumar… We will sit here. The MPs are disrespected here. We just want to meet and ask questions to CEC Gyanesh Kumar,” Gandhi said.

Congress MP Anto Antony said the INDIA bloc protest was being held in support of Rahul Gandhi and was “for the country” and its people. “We are here to support Rahul Gandhi's agitation, this is for the country, for its people; they are killing democracy, we cannot just watch; Police tried to brutally attack us but we will not move,” he said.

Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav on Tuesday claimed the BJP government’s “countdown has begun” and said the INDIA bloc would form the government in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections under Akhilesh Yadav’s leadership.

Yadav also alleged that the BSP’s political existence had “ended” and accused the BJP of “vote theft”. On the Election Commission, he said people were on the streets and demanded that elections be conducted fairly. “Elections should be held honestly,” he said.

Police used water cannons against Punjab Youth Congress workers during their protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Continuing his protest inside the Akashvani Bhawan premises, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi said the protesters would continue their demonstration there. “We don't have any problem with protesting here... We will continue our protests here... If they (Delhi Police) are uncomfortable with us protesting here, they can provide us with another place to protest... The Constitution allows us to lodge a protest...” he said.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticised the Congress over the INDIA bloc protest, accusing it of trying to protect “fake votes”.

“A clean voter list is the soul of democracy; the purity of democracy depends on having an accurate voter list. But whenever the process of purification takes place, the Congress loses its composure,” Chouhan said.

He also questioned the Congress’ allegations of “vote theft”, referring to Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Jharkhand and Punjab. “If you win, democracy is fine, and the voter list is in order. If you lose, it’s theft,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner Gangadharaswamy G M said five Nepali citizens were found included in the electoral roll during the SIR process and have already been dropped from the voter list. He said the concerned authorities had been informed and the individuals would be given an opportunity to be heard before a decision is taken.

“Nepali citizens have already been dropped from the list, voter list. We have given information to the concerned authorities to take action in accordance with it. There were 5 people… We have found that they were included in the Electoral roll. It is a due process. We will give them the opportunity to be heard, then we will take a call,” he said.

Rajasthan Assembly LoP Tikaram Jully alleged irregularities in the electoral process and questioned the Election Commission’s refusal to meet INDIA bloc MPs. He also alleged irregularities in Rajasthan elections, including the use of money power and government machinery.

“Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign and even go to jail. He has betrayed the country,” Jully said. He also described Rahul Gandhi as a “guardian of the Constitution” and said the BJP would have to answer for the alleged irregularities.

Congress MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and KC Venugopal, hold a protest at Akashvani Bhavan in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The Election Commission said it had received no meeting request from any political party as Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders protested near its office seeking talks with election commissioners, reported PTI.

Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained at Delhi’s Akashvani Bhavan on Tuesday while staging a sit-in demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The protest was part of an Opposition march against alleged irregularities in Election Commission decisions, particularly the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi was seen in a Delhi Police van after he was detained during a protest at Akashvani Bhavan. INDIA bloc MPs were staging a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Visuals showed detained Opposition leaders being taken away in a police van. Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi raised slogans in support of Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi’s sit-in protest.

The Election Commission said no political party had formally requested a meeting with it through its representatives as of 4 PM on Tuesday. It said the Delhi Police later informed it that a delegation of MPs, led by Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, wished to meet the Commission and submit a memorandum.

The Election Commission said a meeting sought by a delegation of 240 MPs was proposed at Parliament House Annexe, calling the request “unusual” and “unacceptable” under established protocol. The ECI said it offered to send its senior-most executive officer to receive the memorandum, but the MPs rejected the proposal. It added that political parties can request meetings with the Commission at any time, while the date and time are scheduled based on convenience.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi questioned the Election Commission’s refusal to meet Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition MPs. She asked why elected representatives seeking accountability were not granted a meeting and alleged government involvement in the matter. Her remarks came after Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs were detained.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was seen on a bus after being detained during the INDIA bloc protest at Akashvani Bhavan against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. She was being taken to Kingsway Camp.

Kerala Congress chief V D Satheesan criticised Rahul Gandhi’s detention, saying the Congress would lead the fight for the country and the INDIA bloc would emerge victorious.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was seen at New Police Line, Kingsway Camp, after she was detained during the INDIA bloc protest at Akashvani Bhavan against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Delhi Police detained Opposition MPs as the protest continued.

Delhi Police said around 260 protesters, including 10 MPs, were detained after INDIA bloc demonstrators breached barricades during an unauthorised march towards the ECI office. Police said Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others later entered Akashvani Bhawan without permission and were detained after refusing to leave.

Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with other INDIA Bloc leaders have been released from police detention, as per INC. Delhi police in a statement clarified that the leaders entered Akashvani Bhawan without permission and were detained after refusing to leave.