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India bloc stages massive protest against poll chief, multiple leaders detained

The opposition INDIA bloc launched a coordinated show of strength on October 6, marching from Parliament to the Election Commission headquarters to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration culminated in the detention of several senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

LSN India · 6 October 2026

India bloc stages massive protest against poll chief, multiple leaders detained

Led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the INDIA bloc organised a daylong protest against Election Commission leadership, with the procession moving from Parliament towards the Commission's offices. The march was halted near the All India Radio building, where it transformed into a sit-in demonstration that stretched through the evening.

Gandhi remained at the forefront of the agitation throughout the day, addressing crowds and escalating his calls for the poll chief's removal. At one point, the opposition leader climbed police barricades to wave the national flag while demanding Kumar's resignation, invoking the phrase 'It's done bro' in apparent reference to what the bloc views as the Commission's compromised position.

The demonstration, which lasted approximately eight hours, drew participation from multiple opposition parties united under the INDIA bloc banner. As evening turned to night, Delhi police moved in to disperse the protesters and enforce a dispersal order. Several high-profile opposition figures, including Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other coalition partners, were taken into police custody following the standoff at the barricades.

The protest marks an intensification of opposition pressure on the Election Commission, with the INDIA bloc questioning the independence and impartiality of the constitutional body. The detention of senior opposition leaders signals a hardening stance by authorities on political demonstrations in the capital.