‘Vote Chori’ Protest Update: Rahul Gandhi Released From Detention, Congress Calls Nationwide Protests On October 8

CJP leader Saurav Das has said on a post in X that he will reach the Parliament Street Police Staion by 10 AM today to 'intimate' the police about their impending protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar on October 10.

"Tomorrow, I will reach the Parliament Street Police Station at 10:00 AM to intimate the Delhi Police of our protest on 10th October 2026. The Constitution of India allows us to peacefully assemble and the right to protest peacefully," he said.

The Cockroach Janta Party on X released a set of non-negotiable demands before their proposed October 10 protests at Jantar Mantar. They are,

1. Gyanesh Kumar must resign, and criminal proceedings must be initiated against him.

2. Freeze SIR, halt upcoming elections, restore the January 2025 voters list, and order an independent inquiry.

3. Repeal the 2023 ECI appointments law and establish an independent, credible selection process.

After yesterday's opposition protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS has been imposed in the area around Jantar Mantar road.

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar alleged that BJP and JD(S) workers had withdrawn and destroyed more than one lakh Form 7 applications. The saffron party called them "unsubstantiated allegations".

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju told ANI that the Congress should learn to serve the nation in order to win people's support.

His remarks came after the opposition's protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar that took place on Tuesday.

Barricades put up at Parliament Street near Akashvani Bhawan following INDIA bloc's protest against CEC. Traffic movement remains normal.

BJP State President N Ramchander Rao criticised the Congress and Rahul Gandhi and said they always speak against India.

"The Congress Party and Rahul Gandhi have always spoken against India... People have rejected the Congress Party and Rahul Gandhi and elected the NDA government for the third time... Rahul Gandhi spoke against Indian institutions like Parliament, the Indian system of democracy, outside the country," he told ANI.

CJP leader Saurav Das shared a clip of him visiting Chandini Chowk's Bela Estate where allegedly only one of 909 people remained after the SIR exercise.

"This is the Bela Estate settlement in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk constituency where 908 out of 909 voters have been deleted during the SIR in Delhi. This is only a small sample of what Gyanu has actually done NATIONWIDE, against the people of India, all in the service of ONE political party," he said in his post.

FIR registered against Cong's Rahul & Priyanka Gandhi for entering Akashvani Bhawan without permission during opposition protest, 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.

Congress President and LoP Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has invited Opposition MPs for lunch today in Delhi; the MPs will be signing a letter requesting a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner: Sources told ANI

Speaking to ANI, Congress MP Imran Masood said that Rahul Gandhi is the LoP and he did not enter anywhere forcibly.

"Rahul Gandhi is the LoP and was accompanied by MPs. He did not enter anywhere forcibly... We will fight till the very end. We will not back down just because of an FIR," he said.

Delhi High Court to hear today a PIL seeking directions to the Delhi Police to mandatorily wear body-worn cameras while engaging in crowd control/protest duties, such as at Jantar Mantar, Bar and Bench reported.

AISA President Neha Bora along with CJP leader Saurav Das and other left leaders will be holding a joint press conference at the Press Club Of India today at 12 PM.

"Gyanesh It's Done Bro! Jantar Mantar 2.0 is coming! I'll be joining Saurav Das, Ratna Singh, Adarsh M Saji, and Viraj for a Press Conference Tomorrow 12 Noon at Press Club of India," she said in a post on X.

"Yesterday's incident will be remembered as a major and historic day. Under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders, we courageously exposed the issue before the country, and this will lead to a mass movement. Protests are planned at several places in the coming days. Yesterday, thousands of people gathered following Rahul Gandhi’s call," Raj told ANI.

"In view of the proposed protest/demonstration at the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, on 07.10.2026 from 12:00 Noon to 03:30 PM, traffic movement in and around Kashmere Gate is likely to be affected," Delhi Traffic Police said in a post on X.

"It was the right move. If one forcibly enters a government institution and engages in vandalism, arrests will follow, and a case will be registered," he told ANI.

CJP leader Saurav Das visited the Parliament Street Police Station to inform them about their impending protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10.

"I have come today for this purpose. We are going to the Parliament Street Police Station. I have prepared a letter stating that we will fully cooperate with you and hope that you will also cooperate with us. We have informed them that a major protest is going to be held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on October 10," he said.

The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) in an X post warned that Amit shah and Gyanesh Kumar will be forced to resign.

"Yesterday, all of Delhi's police stations were packed full, with IYC activists and our leaders detained in the buses racing through Delhi's streets.. Amit Shah, did you think you'd stop the revolution by doing all this? Now Gyanesh will go too, and so will you," the post said.

AISA President Neha Bora at her press conference at the Press Club Of India labelled the protests as between "We the people of India vs the BJP “.

AISA President Neha Bora at her press conference at the Press Club Of India called the current time as the right time to "desert the BJP camp".

“If There Was Ever A Time To Desert The BJP Camp, It Is Now,” she said.

At the press conference held at the Press Club Of India, CJP leader Saurav Das said that it is a long fight and the government knows that only Gen Z can do this.

“This fight is going to be a long one. Only Gen Z can do this, govt knows it," he said.

He also called for the arrest of CEC Gyanesh Kumar as well as the roll back of SIR.

“We want arrest and criminal charges against Gyanu, roll back SIR," he said.

At the press conference held at the Press Club Of India, CJP leader Saurav Das said Gyanesh Kumar's resignation won't stop, electoral system needs to be fixed fixed.

“Even if gyanesh kumar resigns, we won’t step back because we need to fix the electoral system,” he said.

Opposition leaders have started gathering at lunch organised by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Before the lunch speaking to ANI, CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar said, "We’ll eat first, then discuss and finalise a programme. The opposition is united and BJD has also joined the protests; more parties are expected to join...We want to meet the President also."

TMC MP Mahua Moitra attacked CEC Gyanesh Kumar in her characteristic whimsical style.

"Gyanesh Chor was obviously too busy to meet us yesterday- he had to rig two by-polls in Bengal. Spent all day ensuring valid voters kept away from booths while BJP cast their votes. Job well done Gyanu!" she said in a post on X.

Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda arrived at Sagar Ratna for the lunch organised by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

"See, we have come for lunch now, our fight is continuing, we have come to know about the FIR where my name was also included, we will not get intimidated by the FIR, they should have understood it by now," he told reporters.

Aam Aadmi Party stages a protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar outside Chief Electoral Officer's office premises at Kashmere Gate.

AAP Delhi President Saurabh Bharadwaj said that his party partcipated in the protest after an invitation by the left parties and that they are there with all the opposition parties including the Cogress.

"The Left parties had invited us a week ago, and our leader, Arvind Kejriwal, accepted the invitation. Today, we are here along with all the opposition parties, including the Congress, CPI(M), CPI(ML) and CPI. We are protesting the deletion of votes belonging to more than half of Delhi’s population through irregularities. We believe the same irregularities were carried out during the 2025 elections, which resulted in the Aam Aadmi Party being defeated unfairly, and we are protesting against that as well. Gyanesh Kumar must resign, and the names of those whose votes were deleted must be restored," he told PTI.

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge is chairing a meeting of MPs from opposition parties at a restaurant in Central Delhi. The objective of the meeting is to draft a letter which will be sent to the CEC demanding an urgent meeting with opposition leaders on the SIR issues.

Congress MP Shafi Parambil says," The protest will continue."

Arriving for the meeting, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha said, "There will be a lunch; maybe there will also be a launch."

We will protest now at Jantar Mantar, which is a designated protest site: Rahul Gandhi after Mallikarjun Kharge's lunch with oppn MPs.

- PTI

After lunch at Sagar Ratna with Opposition MPs, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi said, "As I said yesterday, approximately 300 MPs wanted to meet the Chief Election Commissioner, but they told that we could not hold a protest there. So, today, our plan is to go to the designated protest site, Jantar Mantar, and sit there together once again, and tell the country that, for us, Gyanesh Kumar is not the legitimate Election Commissioner of the country."

He added, "Modi Ji, Amit Shah Ji, Mohan Bhagwat, and Gyanesh Kumar have destroyed the democracy of the country. As I said yesterday, those who have done this are traitors to the country, and we will take action against them. I am telling you right now: Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign." When asked about the FIR against him, he says, "I have 45 FIRs against me. My goal is to have 100. I want 100 FIRs to be registered against me. Every FIR is a medal for me."

INDIA bloc MPs are heading towards Jantar Mantar aboard a bus to hold a sit-in protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Congress MP Mallu Ravi questioned the removal of voters’ names from electoral rolls, asking, “Voters’ names removed from electoral rolls, is this democracy?” He also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Opposition MPs leave Sagar Ratna in Janpath aboard a bus after having lunch at the restaurant.

CPI(M)’s John Brittas said the protest against SIR and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was about “reclaiming democracy”, adding that “we are all together”. He made the remarks after Mallikarjun Kharge’s lunch with Opposition MPs.

Former Solicitor General of India and Senior Advocate Harish Salve said politics was “getting a little beyond what its legitimate boundaries are”, arguing that constitutional institutions should not be made targets of political attacks.

Referring to reports of differences within the Election Commission, Salve said the poll panel had clarified that its decisions were unanimous. “That should have put an end to all this,” he said.

Salve said constitutional institutions are co-equal in their respective areas, while the Supreme Court has the final word if constitutional or legal boundaries are breached. He added that the issue was “unfortunately, dragging a constitutional institution into the mud”.

On the INDIA bloc’s protest against the ECI, former Solicitor General of India and Senior Advocate Harish Salve said, “I don't know what is going on in India. Even a Leader of Opposition, unless he is convinced that he will, for the rest of his life, be Leader only of the Opposition, he must realise that if someday he aspires to become Prime Minister of India, don't break everything, because if you destroy everything, then you'll have nothing to rule over.”

INDIA bloc MPs are set to arrive at Jantar Mantar to hold a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Heavy security has been deployed at the protest site.

TMC MP Derek O'Brien said the Opposition was united on the CEC matter after a meeting called by Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.

“We are all here together, we are all here united, and we are all here without any egos. We will fight these guys, till they are out,” O'Brien said.

Addressing a Congress press conference, Rajasthan Assembly LoP Tika Ram Jully said a major meeting on the upcoming elections was held under the chairmanship of the State Congress Committee president. He said discussions focused on countering alleged malpractices by the government during the last election and referred to the results achieved by the Congress.

“They have now filed cases against our leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi,” Jully said. He questioned whether the Election Commission has the authority to alter SIR Form No. 6 and make decisions arbitrarily. “What is the difficulty in meeting the Election Commission? If 300 MPs want to meet you, then meet them!” he said.

Visuals from Jantar Mantar show Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav and other INDIA bloc leaders and workers protesting over the CEC matter. Police detained Yadav and other protesters during the demonstration.

TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh said, “The country has woken up,” and accused the BJP of having “captured power against the will of the people” in Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi, Bihar and Bengal.

He said, “BJP has looted votes, come to power, and is now oppressing the people, using the Election Commission and Gyanesh Kumar as its tools.” Ghosh added, “The secular, progressive, and democratic forces of the country have joined hands against the BJP. BJP has gone directionless.”

Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav said, “It has become a crime in this country to protest peacefully. We will continue to protest on the streets until Gyanesh Kumar resigns...”

RJD MP Sudhakar Singh said, “We want to send across a message to the voters of the country that they will have to hit the streets to tackle the crisis over their names in the voter list. Do not appeal anywhere; hit the streets. This is the last option. There is an undeclared emergency in this country. Police are not letting us be here even on the streets. Gyanesh Kumar must resign, we will continue to be on the streets until that happens...”

Congress MP Amar Singh questioned police restrictions on Opposition MPs and asked why Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar could not meet them amid their protest.

Former Kerala High Court judge Justice P.N. Ravindran said the Special Intensive Revision is the ninth such exercise and has been conducted eight times earlier, including when the Congress was in power. He said the exercise is aimed at maintaining a clean and valid electoral roll, which is essential for elections. Ravindran said the Election Commission is an independent body and that grievances over deletion of names should be addressed through the appropriate authorities and courts rather than protests.

Congress MPs Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Deepender Singh Hooda, Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood climbed atop a bus heading towards Jantar Mantar. INDIA bloc MPs, including Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, were on the bus.

Congress MP Dharamvira Gandhi alleged that the government was infringing on democratic rights and said elected representatives were being prevented from taking to the streets and raising their voices. He said Opposition MPs were not allowed to meet the Chief Election Commissioner on Tuesday.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he currently has 45 FIRs against him, describing each as “a medal on my chest”. He said his goal was to reach 100 and vowed to continue fighting to defend the Constitution.

Visuals show Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA bloc MPs inside a bus as they head towards Jantar Mantar to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

DCP Sachin Sharma said protests are not allowed without permission and urged MPs and their supporters to leave Jantar Mantar voluntarily, stressing that police would follow proper protocol.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was seen moving towards Jantar Mantar after security personnel stopped buses carrying Opposition MPs on Ashoka Road in Delhi.

As INDIA bloc MPs headed towards Jantar Mantar to protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Congress leader Raja Warring said the Opposition would not stop its protest.

CPI MP P Sandosh, TMC’s Mahua Moitra and RJD’s Manoj Jha condemned the police action during the INDIA bloc protest. They demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, while alleging that protesters faced detentions and lathi-charge during the demonstration.

Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi said INDIA bloc MPs wanted to move towards the Election Commission of India office but were being stopped. He alleged that the government had resorted to “hooliganism” and said there was no democracy.

Congress leader Pawan Khera said protesting was a democratic right under Article 19 and questioned why MPs were being stopped from entering Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site. He said the Opposition was fighting for the rights of voters and alleged that Delhi Police were being directed to prevent their protest.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lay down after appearing to feel unwell as INDIA bloc MPs were detained by police while heading towards Jantar Mantar to protest over the CEC Gyanesh Kumar issue.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged that police personnel beat and scratched MPs during their protest. She said they were thrown to the ground and asserted that she would not move from the spot as the protest continued.

Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan alleged the government was scared, accused it of suppressing peaceful protests, and said Opposition leaders were being prevented from meeting the Election Commission.

CPI(M) MP John Brittas said President Droupadi Murmu forwarded his letter seeking action against Gyanesh Kumar to the Legislative Department, asking it to take appropriate action.

Delhi Police personnel removed Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from near Jantar Mantar as INDIA bloc MPs were stopped from proceeding to the protest site and detained by police.

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi was detained by Delhi Police near Jantar Mantar as INDIA bloc MPs alleged they were beaten and stopped from reaching the protest site.

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders were taken away in a bus after being detained by Delhi Police during the protest near Jantar Mantar.

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha alleged that police carried out a brutal lathi charge during the INDIA bloc protest, holding Gyanesh Kumar, Amit Shah and PM Modi responsible.

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi waved and showed a victory sign to the media after being detained by Delhi Police along with other INDIA bloc MPs near Jantar Mantar.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition would continue protesting until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns, asserting that no action by PM Modi or Amit Shah would stop them.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi condemned the alleged police action against protesters and said the Opposition would continue its fight, urging PM Modi to seek Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

On INDIA bloc protest, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia says, "The opposition must play its role. As I mentioned, there are negative forces whose desires and ideologies are tied solely to holding power. In a democracy, the people are supreme—akin to the Divine—and it is they who deliver the verdict. Accepting that verdict wholeheartedly and working towards the nation’s progress and development should be the duty of us all"

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders were brought to Chhatrasal Stadium after being detained by Delhi Police. She said the nation is run through the Constitution and vowed to defend it.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Rahul Gandhi was raising issues concerning the people, but alleged the government was unwilling to listen or address them.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the INDIA bloc’s engagement would continue beyond the lunch meeting, suggesting future meetings over tea or samosas.

Heavy police deployed at Chhatrasal Stadium where Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders have been brought after detention.

Congress MP Gaddam Vamsi Krishna said the Election Commission had not met more than 300 MPs seeking dialogue, and condemned the police treatment of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi.

Congress MP Jothimani alleged that police used brutal force against Opposition MPs and said the INDIA bloc would continue protesting, refusing to be intimidated by the action.

Congress MP Ujjwal Raman Singh alleged that the government and Election Commission were not functioning, accused authorities of deleting voters’ names and filing FIRs, and said Gyanesh Kumar must resign, SIR must stop and ballot-based polling return.

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders have been released from police detention, Delhi Police sources said. Gandhi was detained during the Opposition’s protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy accused the Modi government of using the Election Commission and CEC Gyanesh Kumar to further its political agenda, and called for Kumar’s resignation.

Kerala Congress leader VD Satheesan alleged that Delhi Police brutally manhandled Rahul Gandhi and said the protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar would be marked in the history of democratic India.

Congress MP Deepender Hooda said the Opposition’s struggle would continue until people get justice and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns.

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Aradhana Misra-Mona alleged that Delhi Police forcibly dragged Rahul Gandhi and pushed Priyanka Gandhi during the INDIA bloc protest. Calling the police action shameful, she said the fight was to save democracy and the Constitution, and asserted that Congress workers and INDIA bloc allies would continue it.

Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC criticised Rahul Gandhi over his detention, contrasting the Opposition’s protest with the government’s SIR exercise and claiming it ensured voting rights for 8 crore voters.

Congress MP Mallu Ravi alleged that police stopped Rahul Gandhi and Opposition MPs from reaching Jantar Mantar during the protest. He said Rahul Gandhi was taken to Barakhamba Police Station and accused the government of undermining voting rights. Ravi said the Opposition would continue fighting to protect democracy and electoral rights.