1 hr ago
Rahul Gandhi Detained After March Blocked Amid Electoral Roll Dispute
Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders wanted to march to the Election Commission’s office.
Security personnel stopped them, so they sat down in protest on a street in New Delhi.
The leaders say changes to voter lists could unfairly remove people from the rolls.
The Election Commission says Gandhi’s claims are misleading and points to a court ruling about the process.
Some opposition leaders joined the protest, while two alliance partners did not take part in the march.
Police used extra security measures nearby.
The protest was part of a week-long campaign by the INDIA bloc.
Rahul Gandhi and INDIA bloc MPs staged a sit-in on Parliament Street in New Delhi on October 6, 2026, after security personnel stopped their march toward the Election Commission headquarters.
The opposition says the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls risks unfair voter deletions and alleges discrepancies and vote theft.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav and Arvind Sawant joined the protest; the Aam Aadmi Party and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam skipped the march.
The Election Commission rejected Gandhi’s claims as misleading, citing its account of the SIR order and a Supreme Court ruling.
The protest was part of an INDIA bloc nationwide agitation scheduled from October 2 to October 8; police deployed heavy security, drones and anti-riot vehicles.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi and INDIA bloc MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav and Arvind Sawant; the Election Commission responded to the allegations.
- What
- Opposition leaders held a sit-in after their march toward the Election Commission headquarters was blocked, protesting the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Where
- Parliament Street, New Delhi, near the route to the Election Commission of India headquarters.
- When
- October 6, 2026; the broader INDIA bloc agitation was scheduled for October 2–8.
- Why
- The opposition alleges discrepancies and potential unfair voter deletions linked to the electoral roll revision; the Election Commission called Gandhi’s claims misleading.
Opposition’s allegations
Election Commission’s response
Electoral roll revision
Opposition’s allegations
The opposition alleges discrepancies and vote theft related to the SIR, and says the process risks unfairly deleting voters.
Election Commission’s response
The Election Commission said Gandhi’s statement was misleading and said the Bihar SIR order was unanimously approved and upheld by the Supreme Court.
Form 6 declaration
Opposition’s allegations
Gandhi’s claims about the use of Form 6 were part of the opposition’s criticism of the voter enrolment process.
Election Commission’s response
The Election Commission said the declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR had been upheld by the Supreme Court.
Key facts
- Protest date
- October 6, 2026
- Protest location
- Parliament Street, New Delhi
- March destination
- Election Commission of India headquarters, Nirvachan Sadan
- Issue
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- Participating leaders named
- Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav and Arvind Sawant
- Alliance partners reported absent from march
- Aam Aadmi Party and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
- Nationwide agitation dates
- October 2–8, 2026
- Election Commission response
- It called Gandhi’s statement misleading and cited the SIR order and a Supreme Court judgment.
Quotes
Election Commission of India
India’s election authority, responding to allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision.
“The order for SIR in Bihar issued on 24 June 2025 was issued with the unanimous approval of the Commission. This order has been upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in its judgment dated 27 May 2026.”
news18.com
“Gyanesh, it’s done, bro. Time to resign”
news18.com
Sources
Related news
Rahul Gandhi Leads INDIA Bloc March, Stages Dharna After Halt
Opposition MPs March to Demand Election Chief's Resignation
Opposition MPs Stage Sit-In Demanding Election Chief’s Resignation
Opposition March to Election Commission Stopped in Delhi
INDIA Bloc Plans ECI March and President Meeting Over SIR
Opposition Protesters Demand Election Chief’s Resignation Over Voter Roll Revision
Opposition MPs March to Election Commission Over SIR
Kanimozhi Says Vijay’s Intensive Campaign Signals Defeat Anxiety
Supreme Court Cancels Meeting With Simultaneous Elections Panel
