Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Opposition Leaders Detained During CJP Protest in Delhi
Opposition leaders and other people joined a protest in Delhi about changes to voter lists.
They also called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
Police detained Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and many other protesters.
News reports gave different numbers for how many people were detained, ranging from around 1,000 to more than 7,000.
Police set up barricades and checks, and travel around parts of the city was restricted.
Reports described metro measures differently, including station closures and limits on entering or leaving stations.
Some shops closed because traders worried about damage during the protest.
Banerjee said she had been taken away against her will, while Kejriwal criticised the detentions.
A Left leader said the response harmed democracy, while a BJP leader accused opposition parties of using the protest to stay politically relevant.
Delhi Police detained Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and other opposition leaders during Saturday’s CJP protest.
The protest opposed Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, with protesters demanding his resignation over alleged irregularities.
Reported detention totals differ: one account cited around 1,000 protesters, another more than 1,500 CJP supporters, and PTI reported more than 7,000.
Security measures included barricades, vehicle checks, road closures and restrictions at metro stations; reports differed on whether stations were shut or entry and exit were restricted.
Some markets, including Khan Market and Connaught Place, closed voluntarily; traders cited concerns about property damage and continuing business costs.
- Who
- Delhi Police detained Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and other opposition figures, activists and protesters.
- What
- A CJP-organised protest opposed the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
- When
- Saturday, October 10; the articles do not specify the year.
- Where
- Delhi, including South Avenue, areas near Jantar Mantar, INA Market and other parts of the capital.
- Why
- Protesters cited alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls and called for Kumar’s resignation.
Protesters and opposition leaders
Government supporters and police response
Purpose and meaning of the protest
Protesters and opposition leaders
Protesters opposed the electoral-roll revision, alleged irregularities and demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Biman Bose said the government was waging war on protesters and undermining democracy.
Government supporters and police response
BJP leader Locket Chatterjee accused opposition parties of piggybacking on the CJP protest to maintain political relevance and said youths were being led down the wrong path.
Detentions and security measures
Protesters and opposition leaders
Banerjee described her detention as a kidnapping, and Kejriwal criticised the detentions as worse than the Emergency.
Government supporters and police response
Police sources said protesters were detained while attempting to march toward the protest site; one report described more than 1,500 CJP supporters as detained preventively.
- Named detained leaders
- Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal were among those detained; reports also named Derek O’Brien, Dola Sen, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar.
- Other named detainees
- Dipankar Bhattacharya, Neha Bora, Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan were reported detained.
- Reported detention totals
- Accounts cited around 1,000 protesters, more than 1,500 CJP supporters, and more than 7,000 protesters detained.
- Security deployment
- One report said around 35,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across the capital.
- Metro restrictions
- One report said entry and exit were restricted at 45 stations from 9 pm Friday until 6 pm Saturday; other reports described metro station shutdowns.
- Markets
- Khan Market and Connaught Place were among markets reported closed voluntarily.
- Banerjee's account
- Banerjee said she and five MPs were taken to Dwarka North police station and that they had been driven around in a prison van.
- Political responses
- Left Front chairperson Biman Bose accused the BJP-led government of declaring war on protesters; BJP leader Locket Chatterjee said opposition parties were trying to piggyback on the CJP protests.
