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 4:56 PM IST
Jairam Ramesh explains why some parties could not attend lunch meet
Congress General Secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh tweets: “All INDIA janbandhan parties had been invited for today’s lunch. But the decision for the lunch had been taken late last night and communicated. It was therefore natural that some parties could not be represented. There is needless comment in some sections of the media on it. INDIA and other Opposition parties are united and stand in solidarity against Vote Chori, SIR and Delimitation.” - 7 Oct 2026 4:36 PM IST
United, without any egos: TMC's Derek O'Brien
After attending the Opposition MPs’ meeting hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, TMC MP Derek O’Brien says: “We are all here together, we are all here united, and we are all here without any egos. We will fight these guys till they are out.” - 7 Oct 2026 4:32 PM IST
Chaos in central Delhi amid heavy security, Opposition protest
Several parts of central New Delhi resemble a fortress right now, as INDIA bloc MPs head for Jantar Mantar to protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav and other INDIA bloc workers and leaders are already at the Jantar Mantar protest site.
Multiple locations in and around Lutyens’ Delhi have been heavily barricaded, with a massive deployment of Delhi Police, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel.
As the bus carrying the INDIA bloc MPs inched towards Jantar Mantar through the heavy security, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla said, “We are being stopped. We want Gyanesh Kumar to be arrested and an FIR be registered against him because he snatched away people’s rights...The entire nation is hitting the streets…”
- 7 Oct 2026 4:20 PM IST
Will continue to protest until our demand is met: Kharge
Mallikarjun Kharge tweets: “All INDIA bloc partners will protest against Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar today. Until our demand is met, we will continue to protest. Narendra Modi is behind whatever the Election Commission is doing. That means Modi himself is trying to destroy democracy. Therefore, we, the people of all parties, want to come together and tell the people of the country that their rights are being snatched away. No matter how many cases are filed against us to protect the rights of the people, we will not be afraid or stop.” - 7 Oct 2026 4:04 PM IST
Kharge, Rahul, Priyanka head to Jantar Mantar after meeting
A bus carrying Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Opposition MPs left for Jantar Mantar on Wednesday after their meeting on the Election Commission issue.
The leaders were heading to the designated protest site following the Opposition MPs’ meeting convened by Kharge over their demand to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- 7 Oct 2026 4:01 PM IST
Delhi Police steps up security at Janpath ahead of protest
Additional security personnel have been deployed at Janpath as Delhi Police prepares to stop Congress MPs from proceeding towards Jantar Mantar. Buses carrying the MPs, along with those walking towards the designated protest site, are likely to be stopped, reported India Today.
- 7 Oct 2026 3:57 PM IST
Pawan Khera: ‘Opposition MPs now moving to Jantar Mantar’
Congress leader Pawan Khera said Opposition MPs were heading to Jantar Mantar after alleging that Delhi Police had prevented them from holding protests at other locations in the national capital.
In a post on X, Khera said buses carrying MPs from Opposition parties were moving towards the designated protest site.
“Since Delhi Police under Amit Shah is not allowing us to protest anywhere in the capital, all buses carrying MPs of opposition parties are now moving to Jantar Mantar - the designated spot for peaceful protests,” Khera said.
He said the Opposition had a constitutional right to hold protests.
“Article 19 gives us our Constitutional right for democratic protest,” Khera said.
The move came amid the Opposition’s ongoing protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- 7 Oct 2026 3:53 PM IST
Rahul attacks Gyanesh Kumar, says ‘not the legitimate Election Commissioner’
Rahul Gandhi launched a fresh attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar after a lunch meeting with Opposition MPs at Sagar Ratna, saying the INDIA bloc would continue its protest at Jantar Mantar.
“As I said yesterday, approximately 300 MPs wanted to meet the Chief Election Commissioner, but they told that we could not hold a protest there. So, today, our plan is to go to the designated protest site, Jantar Mantar, and sit there together once again,” Rahul said.
He then questioned Gyanesh Kumar’s position as the country’s poll chief.
“...For us, Gyanesh Kumar is not the legitimate Election Commissioner of the country. Modi Ji, Amit Shah Ji, Mohan Bhagwat, and Gyanesh Kumar have destroyed the democracy of the country,” Rahul said.
Rahul also accused those he named of damaging democracy and said action would be taken against them.
“As I said yesterday, those who have done this are traitors to the country, and we will take action against them. I am telling you right now: Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign,” he said.
Asked about the FIR registered against him, Rahul said he was not concerned about the number of cases against him.
“I have 45 FIRs against me. My goal is to have 100. I want 100 FIRs to be registered against me. Every FIR is a medal for me,” he said.
Rahul Gandhi launched a fresh attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar after a lunch meeting with Opposition MPs at Sagar Ratna, saying the INDIA bloc would continue its protest at Jantar Mantar.
“As I said yesterday, approximately 300 MPs wanted to meet the Chief Election Commissioner, but they told that we could not hold a protest there. So, today, our plan is to go to the designated protest site, Jantar Mantar, and sit there together once again,” Rahul said.
He then questioned Gyanesh Kumar’s position as the country’s poll chief.
“...For us, Gyanesh Kumar is not the legitimate Election Commissioner of the country. Modi Ji, Amit Shah Ji, Mohan Bhagwat, and Gyanesh Kumar have destroyed the democracy of the country,” Rahul said.
Rahul also accused those he named of damaging democracy and said action would be taken against them.
“As I said yesterday, those who have done this are traitors to the country, and we will take action against them. I am telling you right now: Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign,” he said.
Asked about the FIR registered against him, Rahul said he was not concerned about the number of cases against him.
“I have 45 FIRs against me. My goal is to have 100. I want 100 FIRs to be registered against me. Every FIR is a medal for me,” he said.
- 7 Oct 2026 3:34 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi confirms Jantar Mantar protest
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he and other party leaders would head to Jantar Mantar to join the ongoing protest against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, reported India Today.
- 7 Oct 2026 2:17 PM IST
Rahul, Priyanka arrive for Kharge’s Opposition MPs’ meeting
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrive for the Opposition MPs’ meeting convened by Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.
