Delhi Protest: 8th October Nation-Wide Protest Announced Over ‘Vote Theft’ and CEC Resignation; Rahul Gandhi, Opposition Leaders Detained in Delhi

New Delhi, 7th October 2026: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was detained by Delhi Police on Wednesday during an INDIA bloc protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The Opposition has announced nationwide protests on Thursday, 8th October, demanding action over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and seeking Kumar’s resignation. INDIA bloc parties are expected to hold demonstrations at the district level across the country as part of their “Save Democracy” campaign.

The protest in Delhi followed a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Rahul Gandhi and several Opposition MPs later moved towards Jantar Mantar, where they raised allegations of “vote theft” and demanded greater transparency in the electoral-roll revision process.

Delhi Police detained Gandhi along with several Congress workers and Opposition leaders after they reached the protest venue. Security was tightened in central Delhi, particularly around Jantar Mantar and the roads leading to the site.

The Opposition has accused the Election Commission of deleting genuine voters’ names during the SIR exercise. It has demanded that voters be given prior notice, reasons for deletion and an effective appeal mechanism. These allegations have not been independently established, while the Election Commission has not accepted the charge of deliberate voter deletion.

The action came a day after Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Opposition leaders were detained during a march towards the Election Commission’s headquarters.

Reacting to the FIRs registered during the protests, Gandhi said he considered every FIR against him a “medal”. The 8th October demonstrations are expected to intensify the INDIA bloc’s campaign against the Election Commission and CEC Gyanesh Kumar.