Archive · 6 Oct 2026
INDIA Bloc March to Election Commission Ends at Akashvani Bhawan
Opposition lawmakers marched toward the Election Commission’s office in New Delhi.
They wanted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
Police stopped the march before it reached its destination, and some leaders and workers were briefly taken away in buses.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Deepinder Hooda entered a nearby building called Akashvani Bhawan and sat there.
Opposition leaders said they were worried that voters’ names were being removed and that rules for joining the voter list had changed.
The BJP rejected their criticism and said the opposition was making unfounded claims.
The parties also disagreed about what the Supreme Court had said about Form 6.
The protest was presented by opposition leaders as a campaign to protect voting rights and democracy.
INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament’s Makar Dwar toward Nirvachan Sadan to seek Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Police stopped the march on Parliament Street near NITI Aayog, and several opposition leaders and workers were briefly detained and taken away in buses.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Congress MP Deepinder Hooda entered Akashvani Bhawan and sat on its premises.
Opposition leaders cited alleged voter deletions and concerns about changes to Form 6, which is used to apply for inclusion on the voters’ list.
The BJP condemned the march; its spokesperson Sambit Patra said the Supreme Court had issued notices on the Form 6 matter but had not ruled the form illegal.
- Who
- INDIA bloc opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge; several leaders and workers were detained.
- What
- Opposition members marched toward the Election Commission, were stopped by police, and some entered Akashvani Bhawan; they demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
- When
- Tuesday, October 6, 2026, according to the supplied coverage.
- Where
- Parliament Street near NITI Aayog and Akashvani Bhawan, on the route to Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi.
- Why
- Opposition leaders said they were protesting alleged voter deletions, changes to Form 6 and concerns about the Election Commission’s conduct.
INDIA bloc opposition
BJP
Electoral rolls and the Election Commission
INDIA bloc opposition
Opposition leaders alleged voter deletions and questioned the Election Commission’s impartiality, saying voting rights and democracy needed protection.
BJP
The BJP rejected the opposition’s allegations and said clean electoral rolls are important, questioning why deceased people, non-citizens or duplicate entries should remain on the lists.
Purpose of the march
INDIA bloc opposition
Opposition leaders said elected representatives should be able to meet the chief election commissioner and described the protest as a defence of democracy and voting rights.
BJP
Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan called the march an attempt to create anarchy and relaunch Rahul Gandhi, and said the opposition should accept electoral defeats.
Supreme Court comments on Form 6
INDIA bloc opposition
Rahul Gandhi said the chief election commissioner had changed Form 6 illegally and unilaterally, citing the Supreme Court’s observations.
BJP
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the court had not declared Form 6 illegal, had issued notices and had not yet heard the matter.
- Starting point
- Makar Dwar at Parliament
- Intended destination
- Nirvachan Sadan, the Election Commission headquarters
- Police stop
- Parliament Street near the NITI Aayog office
- Leaders reported inside Akashvani Bhawan
- Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Deepinder Hooda
- Named detained leaders
- Akhilesh Yadav, Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien, Sagarika Ghose and Jothimani, among others
- Opposition demand
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation
- Form 6
- Application used by people seeking inclusion in the voters’ list
Sources
Rahul, Priyanka stage sit-in at Akashvani Bhawan as high drama unfolds during Oppn march to ECI
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INDIA bloc march to EC: Rahul, Priyanka enter Akashvani Bhawan; several leaders detained
