CEC row LIVE: Rahul, Priyanka, other MPs released; Cong calls ‘Black Day’ protest tomorrow
Gandhi siblings booked for entering Akashvani Bhawan on Tuesday, forcefully carried off by police and detained along with other MPs; CJP announces Oct 10 protest
There was utter mayhem in central Delhi on Wednesday (October 7) as INDIA bloc leaders were blocked by the Delhi Police as they made their way to Jantar Mantar to stage a sit-in protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The Opposition leaders alleged they were brutally roughed up by the police while being detained.
Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who lay down on the road after being blocked from proceeding to the protest venue, was lifted off the carriageway and taken to Chhatrasal Stadium along with other leaders. TMC MP Mahua Moitra showed off a cut on her palm that she said happened during the police crackdown.
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi was detained at the Barakhamba Road Police Station, outside which Congress leaders such as Kerala CM VD Satheesan, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, and TMC MP Derek O'Brien camped for more than an hour. The Gandhi siblings and other MPs were released from detention after 8 pm.
Earlier in the day, the Opposition bloc MPs attended a lunch meeting hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Speaking to reporters after the lunch meeting, Rahul Gandhi said Opposition MPs on Tuesday wanted to meet the three Election Commissioners but they refused. Hence, they took the protest path and would do the same at Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site.
In the morning, the Congress slammed the BJP government for having an FIR registered against Rahul, Priyanka, and other MPs for their unauthorised entry into Akashvani Bhawan during Tuesday’s protest. Rahul, however, said: “45 FIRs have been registered against me; I want 100 FIRs to be registered against me. Every FIR is like a medal for me.”
As the protests against the CEC gather steam, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a youth protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10 calling for CEC Kumar’s resignation. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said young people would gather at Jantar Mantar over electoral rolls and voting rights.
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Live Updates
- 7 Oct 2026 8:47 PM IST
Congress calls nationwide ‘Black Day’ protest tomorrow
The Congress has directed its state, district and block-level units across the country to organise protest demonstrations on October 8, declaring the day a “Black Day for Indian democracy”.
In a circular issued by Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, the party alleged that Opposition leaders were stopped and mistreated while attempting to raise concerns about voter lists.
The Congress accused the government of acting in an “undemocratic manner” and claimed that Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders were subjected to “disgraceful treatment” during the confrontation. “The attack on the elected representatives of the people on the issue of voter lists is an attack on the Constitution,” the letter states.
The letter further declares that the Congress will continue its campaign “until Gyanesh Kumar is removed from his position and the distortions in our electoral system are completely corrected.”
- 7 Oct 2026 8:00 PM IST
Rahul taken to Barakhamba Road PS, Priyanka and others to Chhatrasal
INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, TMC MP Mahua Moitra, and others were taken to the Chhatrasal Stadium after being detained by the Delhi Police. Rahul Gandhi has been taken to Barakhamba Road Police Station, where Keralam CM VD Satheesan, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Congress MP Kiran Kumar Chamala, and TMC MP Derek O’Brien have arrived, among others. - 7 Oct 2026 7:41 PM IST
Mahua Moitra injured in Delhi Police crackdown
TMC MP Mahua Moitra was injured as Delhi Police allegedly roughed up INDIA bloc leaders on the way to Jantar Mantar on Wednesday (October 7).
- 7 Oct 2026 7:21 PM IST
We will bring them to justice: Rahul Gandhi
Several INDIA bloc MPs were forcefully removed from the road on which they lay after being blocked from marching to Jantar Mantar. Congress MP Shafi Parambil got into a scuffle with Delhi Police officials as they tried to remove him forcibly. Congress workers later punctured the tyres of the bus carrying the detained the leaders at Kasturba Gandhi Marg.
Rahul Gandhi told the media, “Amit Shah, Narendra Modi, Gyanesh Kumar, Mohan Bhagwat can do all this but we are going to bring them to justice. It’s my guarantee that all four of them will be brought to justice. This is all a panic reaction. This is all fear.”
- 7 Oct 2026 6:24 PM IST
INDIA bloc MPs detained on way to Jantar Mantar
INDIA bloc MP stopped on the way to Jantar Mantar and detained by Delhi Police.
- 7 Oct 2026 6:06 PM IST
Priyanka lifted from road, detained
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was dragged and lifted by Delhi Police personnel from the road where she lay down after INDIA bloc MPs were not allowed to march to Jantar Mantar to protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
- 7 Oct 2026 6:03 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi detained
Delhi Police detain Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi near Jantar Mantar. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA bloc MPs say they were beaten up and stopped from moving towards the protest site. - 7 Oct 2026 5:47 PM IST
Priyanka lies down on road
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lies down on the road as INDIA bloc leaders are stopped by Delhi Police from reaching Jantar Mantar. Other MPs can be seen trying to protect her as security personnel surround them from all sides. She says she was scratched all over by policemen. - 7 Oct 2026 5:26 PM IST
INDIA bloc MPs reach Jantar Mantar
After spending more than an hour on a bus that moved at a snail's pace towards Jantar Mantar, Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition INDIA bloc MPs could be seen making their way towards the protest site on foot. According to the Congress's X handle, Jantar Mantar was about 100 metres away.
- 7 Oct 2026 5:17 PM IST
What's happening in Lutyens' Delhi? In photos
INDIA bloc MPs alleged that their bus was blocked by Delhi Police on the way to Jantar Mantar. PTI Photos
