INDIA bloc leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and others at Raj Ghat in New Delhi on Thursday (October 8).
CEC row LIVE: INDIA bloc MPs leave Raj Ghat after protest
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi alleged that PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and CEC Gyanesh Kumar have destroyed the Constitution and asserted that they will be brought to justice for their conspiracy
Opposition leaders of the INDIA bloc on Thursday (October 8) staged a peaceful protest at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Raj Ghat to highlight what it alleged was the "hijacking" of the country by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) through a criminal conspiracy by indulging in 'vote chori'.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that Modi, Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and CEC Gyanesh Kumar have destroyed the Constitution and asserted that they will be brought to justice for their conspiracy.
Lunch meeting
Rahul said this after Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge hosted a lunch for Opposition MPs and leaders at a restaurant in central Delhi and decided to sit in a peaceful protest at Raj Ghat.
Then they left for Raj Ghat in air-conditioned buses parked outside the restaurant. Some of the leaders and MPs climbed atop the bus in which Rahul Gandhi and Kharge were travelling and were seen waving the tricolour.
Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) launched a major demonstration at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Thursday even as the INDIA bloc intensified its campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with coordinated protests across multiple cities demanding the rollback of voter-list revisions and the resignation of Gyanesh.
In Bengaluru, the CJP protest drew activists, political leaders and civil society groups. Actor Prakash Raj and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee joined the protest, alongside JNU student leader Aishe Ghosh, AISA president Neha Bora, and CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke. Organisers screened video testimonies from individuals who claimed they had been wrongly excluded from electoral rolls during the SIR exercise.
A People’s Tribunal has also been planned to hear grievances related to alleged voter deletions, followed by a symbolic “chappal protest”. The CJP and allied groups demanded that all deletions carried out during the revision be scrapped and that pre-SIR electoral rolls be restored.
INDIA bloc plans another round of protests
The agitation coincided with renewed mobilisation by INDIA bloc parties in Delhi. For the second straight day, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hosted alliance leaders for lunch, amid indications that another round of protests would follow. The meetings came after Wednesday’s dramatic showdown with police, when Opposition leaders attempted to reach Jantar Mantar for a sit-in demanding Kumar’s resignation.
The Delhi protest witnessed tense scenes, with opposition MPs clashing with security personnel after being stopped en route. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several women leaders lay down on the road while holding copies of the Constitution, while Rahul Gandhi resisted attempts by police to detain him. On Thursday, Delhi Police registered an FIR against Rahul, Priyanka and several Congress workers, alleging assault on police personnel and obstruction of official duties during the protest. Police said 91 people, including MPs and senior leaders, had been detained.
Meanwhile, in Patna, INDIA bloc leaders led by Tejashwi Yadav took out an “Aakrosh March” against the SIR exercise. The march was halted near the office of the Chief Electoral Officer as protesters attempted to move towards Lok Bhavan. Several leaders were detained, while former CPI(ML) MLA Ajit Kushwaha reportedly fainted during the demonstration.
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Scroll below for Live updates.
Live Updates
- 8 Oct 2026 8:44 PM IST
Security tightened at CEC Gyanesh Kumar's residence, EC office
Delhi Police has tightened security in and around the official residence of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission office amid protests by Opposition parties and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Kumar has Z-Plus category protection, which entails a minimum of 32 personnel, mainly drawn from Delhi Police. The security cover for the CEC’s post was enhanced to the top category during the tenure of former CEC Rajiv Kumar by the Central government.
- 8 Oct 2026 8:18 PM IST
Congress holds 'Black Day for Democracy' protests across Maharashtra against CEC
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Thursday (October 8) accused the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of "vote theft" with the help of the Election Commission. He demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the registration of a sedition case.
The Congress held “Black Day for Democracy” protests across Maharashtra, with demonstrations reported from Nanded, Buldhana, Nashik, Amravati, Nagpur, Chiplun, and other areas.
Addressing reporters during a protest in Buldhana, Sapkal alleged the BJP-led government had come to power through "vote theft" and claimed the irregularities had now been exposed.
"Kumar must be dismissed and booked under a sedition case. Modi and Shah should apologise to the country," Sapkal said.
Around 300 MPs of the INDIA bloc had been trying to meet the Election Commissioners for the past three days over allegations of vote theft and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, but were not allowed to meet them, he claimed. He said police were pushing and assaulting Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and other MPs while the government was protecting Kumar.
INDIA bloc leaders on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat in the national capital to highlight what they alleged was the "hijacking" of the country by Modi, Shah, and CEC Kumar through a criminal conspiracy by indulging in “vote chori”.
The INDIA alliance's protest is being held under the slogan “Remove Gyanesh, save democracy”, Sapkal said.
Responding to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' remarks, Sapkal said the Congress government had established several autonomous institutions, including the Election Commission. But the BJP had now taken control of such institutions, the Congress leader said. He questioned why Fadnavis was defending the Election Commission when the Congress was protesting against it.
The Congress state president said the agitation would be intensified if Kumar was not removed.
- 8 Oct 2026 7:36 PM IST
Revanth Reddy to PM Modi: 'Roll back SIR, or you will have to vacate your position'
Leaving from Raj Ghat, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy told the media, "Roll back SIR; otherwise, you will have to vacate your position. Vacate your throne, Modi ji; otherwise, the public will make you do that."
- 8 Oct 2026 7:21 PM IST
Congress protest against EC a political stunt to grab headlines: Rajasthan BJP chief
Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore on Thursday termed the Congress' protest against the Election Commission a "political stunt" aimed at grabbing headlines and accused the Opposition party of trying to mislead people.
Rathore said if the Congress had grievances against the Election Commission, its leaders should have sought an appointment and met officials through a delegation instead of staging protests involving 300 to 400 people.
"There is a prescribed procedure for lodging complaints with the Election Commission. A delegation of five to seven people can seek an appointment and present its grievances," he said.
The BJP leader alleged that the Congress was organising such demonstrations merely to remain in the news and create an impression that it was politically active.
He also criticised Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his alleged conduct towards a woman police personnel during the protest in Delhi.
Rahul's behaviour was inappropriate, he said, adding that public representatives were expected to maintain dignity and decorum.
Questioning the Congress' claims of unity, Rathore said its leaders were coming together merely for photographs.
"Those who are genuinely united do not need to repeatedly demonstrate their unity," he said.
Alleging that attempts were being made to create instability in India, Rathore claimed that foreign forces could be involved, with some political leaders acting at their behest.
He urged the people to remain vigilant against attempts to weaken the country's unity and democratic institutions.
- 8 Oct 2026 7:09 PM IST
INDIA bloc's protest concludes
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, while leaving Raj Ghat, said, "The protest today has concluded. We will inform you about what we will do tomorrow. Our agitation will continue until CEC, who murdered democracy in this country, resigns and an FIR is registered against him. We also demand that elections be held through ballot paper and that SIR be scrapped...Whenever a dictator starts weakening, he starts using force. They are registering FIR against Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. The public will file an FIR against them and lock them up."
- 8 Oct 2026 6:22 PM IST
Kharge, Rahul, Priyanka pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat
Congress leaders pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.
- 8 Oct 2026 6:17 PM IST
NHRC notice to Delhi Police over sexual harassment faced by 3 women journalists during protest
The NHRC on Thursday said it has issued a notice to the Delhi Police commissioner over a news report that three women journalists were allegedly subjected to sexual harassment by city police personnel during a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on October 3.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has observed that the content of the news report, if true, raises serious issues of violation of human rights.
In a statement, the rights panel said it has "taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that three women journalists were subjected to sexual harassment by Delhi Police personnel during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi".
Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Delhi Police commissioner, seeking a detailed report on it in two weeks.
According to the media report, carried on October 5, the New Delhi district police has received complaints about the alleged incidents, which were transferred to the Crime Branch of Delhi Police for an inquiry, it said.
In a separate statement, the NHRC said it has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report alleging that in Kiratpur of Bihar's Darbhanga district, a government primary school's roof continues to be "temporarily supported by wooden benches, desks and bricks underneath after the main pillar holding it had collapsed three to four months ago".
Reportedly, it is a risk to the safety of about 191 students and school staff, the panel said.
The Commission has observed that the content of the news report, if true, raises serious issues of human rights violations. Therefore, it has issued a notice to the Darbhanga district magistrate, seeking a detailed report in two weeks.
According to the media report carried on October 5, the administration appears to be unaware of the situation, the statement said.
- 8 Oct 2026 5:37 PM IST
October 10 protest: Prashant Bhushan claims govt will deploy 50,000 Paramilitary and police personnel to stop protest
Six farmer unions are supporting the October 10 youth protest against SIR, CEC Gyanesh Kumar, in Delhi. A joint protest call has been given by the student wings of various Left parties, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) student wing, the Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP).
Lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan claims the government will deploy 50,000 Paramilitary and police personnel to stop the protest.
Dalit teachers, activist groups to join protest too; activist group Jan Sarokar mobilising people from 12 states to join protest.
- 8 Oct 2026 5:26 PM IST
INDIA bloc in Bihar hits streets, demands CEC's resignation
The Opposition INDIA bloc in Bihar, led by RJD working president Tejashwi Yadav, hit the streets on Thursday to press the demand for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Leaders of the RJD, the Congress, the Left and some smaller allies, many of them members of Parliament or the state legislature, gathered at "Shaheed Smarak", a memorial of the martyrs of Quit India movement, situated adjacent to the Vidhan Sabha premises, for the "Lok Bhavan march".
Barely a hundred metres onwards, though, close to the office of the Election Commission in Patna, the Opposition leaders encountered barricades and a heavy contingent of police, armed to the teeth.
"It is appalling. We have informed the honourable governor that we will be visiting him in a peaceful procession. Yet I can see a few police personnel brandishing AK-47 rifles. This is the dictatorial attitude of the ruling NDA that Gyanesh Kumar is abetting", alleged Yadav, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly.
- 8 Oct 2026 5:16 PM IST
INDIA bloc protests in Jaipur, demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation
INDIA Bloc leaders and supporters staged a protest in Jaipur on Thursday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the electoral process.
The Congress party held similar protests in the districts as well.
INDIA Bloc leaders and workers gathered at the Collectorate Circle under the 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' campaign, raised slogans and burnt an effigy of the chief election commissioner.
Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra accused the Election Commission of ignoring the opposition's demand for an investigation into alleged "vote theft".
"We are only demanding an investigation into the vote theft, but they are neither listening to us nor allowing us to protest," Dotasra said.
