Delhi Protest Today: Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Continue Sit-In Near Election Commission as Opposition Demands CEC’s Resignation

Political tensions remained high in the national capital on Tuesday as Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with other INDIA bloc leaders, continued their protest near the Election Commission of India headquarters.

The Opposition had marched from Parliament towards Nirvachan Sadan, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and raising concerns over the ongoing revision of electoral rolls.

The march was stopped by Delhi Police near the Akashvani Bhawan area, where heavy barricading and security arrangements were put in place. Several Opposition leaders were detained during the demonstration.

Rahul Gandhi Climbs Barricade During Protest

One of the most notable moments of the demonstration came when Rahul Gandhi climbed onto a police barricade while holding the national flag.

After the march was stopped, Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises and joined other Opposition leaders in a sit-in protest.

Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition would continue its protest and questioned why the Election Commission was not meeting the MPs who had travelled to its office.

Opposition Demands Action Over Voter-List Revision

The INDIA bloc has been protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Opposition parties have alleged that the voter-list revision process could result in eligible voters being excluded. They have demanded greater transparency and have called for accountability from the Election Commission.

The Election Commission and the government have rejected allegations of wrongdoing, saying the exercise is intended to identify duplicate and ineligible entries while protecting the rights of genuine voters.

Several Opposition Leaders Detained

The Delhi protest also saw the detention of several prominent Opposition leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien and Mahua Moitra, according to reports.

Police used barricades to prevent protesters from moving towards the Election Commission headquarters. The heavy security deployment affected movement around parts of central Delhi.

Election Commission Says No Meeting Request Was Received

Amid the confrontation, the Election Commission said that it had not received a request from any political party for a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners on Tuesday.

The clarification came after Opposition leaders accused the poll panel of refusing to meet them during the protest.

Priyanka Gandhi Questions Police Barricading

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also confronted a senior Delhi Police officer during the sit-in. She argued that the extensive police barricading and restrictions were contributing to disruption in the city.

The protest continued for several hours as Opposition leaders insisted that they wanted to meet the Election Commission and present their concerns regarding the electoral-roll revision.

Political Face-Off Intensifies

The protest has triggered a fresh political confrontation between the Opposition and the BJP.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, accusing the Opposition of targeting constitutional institutions. Other BJP leaders also defended the Election Commission and questioned the Opposition’s allegations regarding electoral processes.

For now, the standoff between the Opposition and authorities remains a major political development in Delhi, with the INDIA bloc continuing to demand answers from the Election Commission over the voter-list revision process.

This story is developing and may be updated as further details emerge.