Rahul Gandhi and INDIA bloc MPs were stopped while marching to the Election Commission in Delhi. The opposition leaders then staged a dharna and demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
The Rahul Gandhi Gyanesh Kumar protest escalated in New Delhi on Tuesday as INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi led the march alongside Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge and other opposition leaders.
The protesters were stopped by security personnel near the NITI Aayog office on Parliament Street. The MPs then sat on the road and staged a dharna after police prevented them from proceeding towards Nirvachan Sadan.
Rahul Gandhi Targets Gyanesh Kumar
During the protest, Rahul Gandhi directly called for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
In a post on X, Gandhi wrote, “Gyanesh, it’s done bro. Time to resign.”
Opposition MPs raised slogans and carried placards targeting the Chief Election Commissioner. Their protest focused on alleged irregularities in the SIR process and changes related to voter registration.
The Election Commission has rejected opposition allegations and maintained that decisions related to the SIR process were taken unanimously.
Rahul Gandhi Climbs Barricade
The standoff intensified after Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee climbed a police barricade after security personnel blocked the march.
Visuals showed Gandhi waving the national flag as protesters attempted to move towards the Election Commission headquarters.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also participated in the demonstration. Several opposition leaders later faced detention as police moved to disperse the protesters.
INDIA Bloc Demands SIR Rollback
The opposition has linked its demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation to its objections over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Congress and other INDIA bloc leaders have alleged that the process could affect voters whose names are removed from electoral rolls. They have demanded greater transparency and the restoration of names they claim were wrongly deleted.
The Election Commission has disputed the opposition’s characterisation of the process and defended its procedures.
Akhilesh Yadav, Other Opposition Leaders Join Protest
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was among the opposition leaders who participated in the march. TMC leaders, Congress MPs and other INDIA bloc representatives also joined the demonstration.
The protest took place amid heavy security around Parliament, Vijay Chowk and the Election Commission headquarters. Barricades were placed along the route to prevent the protesters from reaching the poll panel’s office.
The developments mark another escalation in the opposition’s campaign against the SIR exercise and its demand for action against the Chief Election Commissioner.
5 Key Takeaways
- Rahul Gandhi led an INDIA bloc march from Parliament towards the Election Commission.
- Police stopped the protesters near the NITI Aayog office.
- Opposition MPs then staged a dharna on Parliament Street.
- Rahul Gandhi demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over opposition concerns about SIR.
- Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and other opposition leaders also joined the protest.
