Archive · 6 Oct 2026
BJD Joins Opposition Protest Demanding Election Chief’s Resignation
Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal, or BJD, joined other opposition parties at a protest in Delhi.
They want Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
Their demand follows allegations that voter lists were revised improperly.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led the protest.
Police briefly detained them and then released them.
The BJD sent two representatives, Manas Mangraj and Sulata Deo.
The BJD lost power in Odisha to the BJP in the 2024 election.
The article also says the BJD once worked with the BJP in a national alliance.
Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal sent Manas Mangraj and Sulata Deo to join opposition protests in central Delhi.
The protest called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign over allegations of irregularities in voter-roll revisions.
Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led the demonstration and were briefly detained before being released.
The BJD lost power in Odisha to the BJP in the 2024 Assembly election and is now questioning that election, according to the report.
The party previously belonged to the BJP-led national alliance from 1998 to 2009.
- Who
- The Biju Janata Dal, represented by Manas Mangraj and Sulata Deo, joined a protest led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
- What
- Opposition parties demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in voter-roll revisions.
- When
- Tuesday; the article does not specify the date.
- Where
- Central Delhi.
- Why
- Protesters cited allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of state and union territory voter rolls.
Protesters’ position
Election Commission position
Voter-roll revision and the demand for resignation
Protesters’ position
Opposition parties allege irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls and are demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Election Commission position
The article does not provide a response from Gyanesh Kumar or the Election Commission.
- BJD representatives
- Manas Mangraj and Sulata Deo
- Election official targeted by demand
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Protest leaders
- Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
- Police action
- The two Congress MPs were briefly detained and released.
- Odisha election
- The BJP defeated the BJD in the 2024 Assembly election, according to the article.
- Past alliance
- The BJD was part of the BJP-led national alliance from 1998 to 2009.