Monsoon Session: Rahul, Priyanka released from detention; LS passes I-T Bill
MPs from several parties marched from Parliament to the Election Commission but were stopped midway by police amid high drama
All the Opposition MPs detained on their way to the Election Commission office on Monday (August 11) to voice their protest against the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and alleged “vote chori” were released after about two hours, police officials said.
More than 30 MPs, including Congress’ Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and TMC's Sagarika Ghose, were detained and taken to the Parliament Street Police Station. The Election Commission had only given permission to 30 MPs to enter its premises but the protesters were in “large numbers”, officials said.
Besides, no one had sought permission for the protest march to the Election Commission, they said.
The MPs from various parties took out a protest march from Parliament House to the Election Commission headquarters, about a kilometre away, but were stopped midway by police amid high drama.
Subsequently, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge returned to Parliament, and the proceedings of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha began. Despite protests, the Lok Sabha passed two important Bills.
Earlier in the day, Opposition MPs, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Sharad Pawar took out the march to protest against the voter roll revision in Bihar. However, they were stopped by police midway at Transport Bhawan.
Wearing white caps with a red cross on the words 'SIR' and "vote chori", the protesting MPs raised slogans against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar while carrying placards and banners. Before embarking on the protest march at Parliament's Makar Dwar, they sang the national anthem.
Police had made elaborate arrangements and placed barricades next to the Transport Bhawan on Parliament street to stop the protesting MPs from moving forward. The police asked the MPs not to proceed further and made announcement through a loudspeaker, as they were prevented from moving forward to the Election Commission headquarters, a short distance from Parliament House.
Prominent among those who participated in the march were T R Baalu (DMK), Sanjay Raut (SS-UBT), Derek O'Brien (TMC), Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, as well as other MPs from opposition parties like the DMK, the RJD, Left parties.
TMC MPs Mahua Moitra and Sushmita Dev and Congress' Sanjana Jatav and Jothimani climbed the barricades at Transport Bhawan and raised slogans against the EC when they were prevented from moving forward by the police.
They held posters and raised slogans, demanding a rollback of the SIR.
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'SC intervention must to goad EC to act on Rahul's vote theft charges' | Capital Beat
INDIA bloc MPs protest in Parliament complex over Bihar SIR, 'vote theft'
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Live Updates
- 11 Aug 2025 11:41 AM IST
SIR not an issue in Bihar, people support EC’s move: JDU’s Sanjay Kumar Jha
JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying it is well-received in Bihar and only being politicised in Delhi.
Calling the process highly transparent, he criticised the Opposition for refusing to provide written proof to the Election Commission and questioned if they considered themselves above the law.
- 11 Aug 2025 11:38 AM IST
EC issues notice to Bihar Dy CM Vijay Sinha over allegations of two EPIC numbers
The Bankipur Electoral Registration Officer has issued a notice to Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha over allegations of holding two EPIC numbers, asking him for a response by 5 pm on August 14.
Sinha said he will reply to the notice, adding that he respects the constitutional body and has faith in the Constitution.
- 11 Aug 2025 11:35 AM IST
Pramod Tiwari likens Opposition’s EC march to Gandhiji’s Dandi March
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari compared Rahul Gandhi’s participation in the INDIA bloc’s march from Parliament to the Election Commission to Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March, saying the move aims to “save democracy.”
He accused that the EC is not willing to discuss the issue and is instead asking for an affidavit.
He accused the EC of acting under pressure and urged it not to align with the BJP to undermine the country's democracy.
- 11 Aug 2025 11:31 AM IST
Security tightened as INDIA Bloc MPs gather for Parliament-to-EC protest march
Massive police deployment on Raisina Road, Red Cross Road and Patel Chowk roundabout, the route INDIA bloc MPs will take for their protest march from Parliament to Nirvachan Sadan, the headquarters of the Election Commission.
MPs have begun to gather at the Makar Dwar of Parliament. The march to begin shortly.
- 11 Aug 2025 11:30 AM IST
Gogoi urges EC to give clear answers, seeks security for Opposition march
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said the Election Commission must provide clear answers to the public and not just speak to political parties.
He argued there was no reason to deny permission for the Opposition’s march to the EC and that security should be provided instead.
- 11 Aug 2025 11:27 AM IST
DK Shivakumar questions Karnataka EC’s notice to Rahul Gandhi
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar criticised the state’s Chief Electoral Officer for issuing a notice to Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, asserting that the Congress won the election legally and that elections in a democracy must be conducted lawfully.
- 11 Aug 2025 11:25 AM IST
No political party has filed claims or objections after Bihar draft roll: EC
The Election Commission of India said that since the start of the Claims & Objections period, no political party has submitted a single claim or objection after the release of the Bihar draft electoral list in the ongoing electoral roll revision process.
- 11 Aug 2025 11:19 AM IST
Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm; Opposition’s SIR protest march at 11:30 am
Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm amid ruckus by the Opposition. INDIA bloc protest march on SIR to start from Parliament complex at 11.30
- 11 Aug 2025 11:17 AM IST
EC to meet 30-member Opposition delegation at 12 noon
The Election Commission has accepted the Opposition's request for an appointment with the poll panel and scheduled an interaction at 12:00 pm on Monday (August 11) at Sukumar Sen Hall, 7th Floor, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi.
Additionally, it requested that, due to space limitations, the Opposition submit the names of up to 30 persons who will attend the meeting.
- 11 Aug 2025 11:10 AM IST
Akhilesh Yadav alleges bias by EC, irregularities in polls, cites BJP favouritism
Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav accused the Election Commission of repeated irregularities, alleging police were present at polling booths in civilian clothes, working to ensure maximum votes are cast in favour of the BJP and that votes were “looted” in the Milkipur bypolls.
He said SP would have acted against EC officers had it been in power in UP and urged the Congress government in Karnataka to act against “dishonest” officials.
