Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Gandhi Siblings Move Protest Into Akashvani Premises
Opposition leaders in India marched toward the Election Commission to ask questions about elections.
Police stopped the march with barricades and detained some lawmakers.
Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka then walked into the nearby Akashvani Bhawan, surprising police and other protesters.
Congress leaders said they hoped to get closer to the Election Commission from there, but a gate was closed.
The protesters sat inside and asked to meet election officials.
Police later removed Rahul and briefly detained him, while the protest continued elsewhere.
The Election Commission said it had not received a request for a meeting from Congress or another political party.
The Home Ministry called a separate claim that Priyanka was negotiating with senior officials fake.
INDIA bloc leaders marched toward the Election Commission but were stopped by police barricades, and several MPs were detained.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra entered Akashvani Bhawan, unexpectedly shifting the protest to its premises.
Congress leaders said Rahul improvised a route toward the Election Commission, but police closed the gate.
The protesters demanded a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other election commissioners over alleged electoral irregularities.
Police later removed Rahul from the premises and briefly detained him; the Election Commission said it had received no meeting request from Congress or another party.
- Who
- INDIA bloc Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Delhi Police.
- What
- Opposition leaders protested, entered Akashvani Bhawan after the march was blocked, and sought a meeting with election commissioners.
- When
- The protest began around noon and continued into the evening; the articles do not give a date.
- Where
- Sansad Marg and Akashvani Bhawan in New Delhi, near the Election Commission headquarters.
- Why
- The leaders demanded action over alleged electoral irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and sought to question election commissioners.
Opposition leaders
Authorities
Meeting with election commissioners
Opposition leaders
Opposition leaders said they wanted to meet the election commissioners to ask questions and raise allegations of electoral irregularities.
Authorities
The Election Commission said it had received no meeting request from Congress or any political party.
Traffic disruption
Opposition leaders
Rahul Gandhi said police should tell protesters where they could hold a sit-in; Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said police barricades and blocked routes caused commuter inconvenience.
Authorities
The article describes police barricades and detentions but does not provide a detailed police response to the leaders' claims.
Reported negotiations
Opposition leaders
Opposition sources claimed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was leading negotiations with senior government officials.
Authorities
The Home Ministry dismissed the claim as fake.
- Protest group
- INDIA bloc Opposition leaders
- Initial destination
- Election Commission headquarters, Nirvachan Sadan
- Protest location
- Akashvani Bhawan premises on Sansad Marg
- Main demand
- A meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi
- Reported start
- Around noon
- Police action
- Several MPs were detained; Rahul Gandhi was later removed from the premises and briefly detained
- Election Commission account
- It said it had received no meeting request from Congress or any political party
- Disputed negotiations claim
- Opposition sources said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was negotiating with senior officials; the Home Ministry called the claim fake
