Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi Detained During Sit-In Against Gyanesh Kumar. Released

Nearly nine hours after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi led a demonstration from Parliament to the Election Commission and began a sit-in near the poll body's office to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Delhi Police cracked down and detained him and other leaders around 8 pm on Tuesday. 

Gandhi and his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were detained by the police and bundled into a bus. Visuals showed Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi being dragged away by police personnel as Congress workers tried to stop them. The siblings were taken to Kingsway Camp Police Station in north Delhi and released around 10 pm.

The sit-in on the premises of the Akashwani Bhawan was part of the protest organised by the INDIA Bloc over the alleged "unilateral" decisions taken by Kumar and "irregularities" in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, and saw leaders and party workers turning out in large numbers.

This was not the first time the Gandhi siblings were detained on Tuesday. Around noon, they were briefly made to board a police bus and were seen stepping out some time later. 

"The Election Commission office is barely 50 metres away, but we were not allowed to go there. I do not understand what the problem is. The Election Commission's job is to conduct elections properly. At least 300 MPs want to meet Gyanesh Kumar. But he is scared. I don't know what's happening in the country," Rahul Gandhi had told reporters at Akashwani Bhavan at the time. 

"If the representatives of the people cannot meet the Election Commission, then what is the meaning of democracy?" he said.

A video from the detention centre showed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra climbing a gate as supporters shouted their approval and police tried to restrain her. 

Priyanka Gandhi Climbs Gate After Being Detained During Protest Against Poll Body Chief https://t.co/a1eRtxRRJd

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 6, 2026

After his release, the Leader of the Opposition said no "traitor" would be spared. 

"To save the traitors of democracy, the remnants of democracy have been dragged through the mud. There will be a reckoning - not a single traitor will be spared," he wrote on X. 

Before the Gandhi siblings were detained in the evening, Congress sources said the party had sent a letter seeking an appointment with the Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners.

"If an official from the Election Commission comes and gives an assurance of a meeting within the next day or two, Gandhi might call off his ongoing sit-in protest. But his condition is that all 300 MPs will participate in the meeting," said a source. 

Election Commission's Take

In a statement around 9 pm, the Election Commission said that, as per established procedure, parties have to seek an appointment and a meeting is held at an agreed-upon time. It emphasised that it did not receive any such request until 4 pm on Tuesday.

"While the Election Commission was considering the aforementioned meeting proposal from the MPs this evening after 4 PM, it was informed by the Delhi Police DCP that the requested meeting was to involve a group of 240 MPs and was proposed to be held at the Parliament House Annexe. The Election Commission deemed this request unusual and unacceptable, as established protocol dictates that such meetings take place within the premises of the Election Commission of India," it said. 

The Commission said it then proposed something "unprecedented"  - sending its most senior executive officer to the meeting venue to receive the MPs' memorandum - but it was rejected by the MPs. 

The Delhi Police also issued a statement and said that no permission had been sought or granted for the protest.

"To maintain law and order and prevent the situation from escalating further, the Delhi Police had to take action to remove the protesters. During this operation, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other protesters were removed from the premises and detained as required. The action was carried out in accordance with the law, prioritising law and order and public safety," it said. 

Protest March

The Opposition MPs began the march from the parliament compound around 11 am and headed towards Nirvachan Sadan, the Election Commission's headquarters. They held banners that read "Save Democracy" and also shouted slogans against Gyanesh Kumar.

The Opposition bloc has decided on the blueprint for a protest against Gyanesh Kumar. The bloc had been in a huddle since their meeting last week to formulate a strategy on a matter that had made headlines and received support from the Gen-Z - represented by the satirical political group Cockroach Janta Party.

READ | "Gyanesh, It's Done, Bro": Rahul Gandhi As He Leads March To Election Commission's Office

Two key opposition parties - the DMK and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) - have stayed away from the INDIA bloc march. As the principal Opposition party, the Congress will lead the protest roadmap all the way to the winter session of parliament to keep the issues linked to the ECI and Gyanesh Kumar alive. While the Congress and the Samajwadi Party would ideally like the issue to remain relevant until the assembly elections in five states scheduled for February, their current strategy focuses on sustaining the momentum until the next parliamentary session.

The Congress held a meeting on Monday to address these issues and work out its strategy. The party is now referring to the Election Commission as the "Cheating Commission".

Its plan of action includes: October 10 to 20, a "Save Vote, Save Country" (Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao) campaign at the block level, featuring bicycle and motorcycle rallies, the burning of an effigy of Gyanesh Kumar, and the distribution of leaflets by party workers.

Subsequently, "Save Vote, Save Country" chaupals (public meetings) will be organised at the booth level from October 25 to November 25, with the participation of senior Congress leaders.

A massive rally is scheduled for November 1 at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. On November 25 and 26, six separate marches will be launched from areas surrounding Delhi under the banner of "Chalo Delhi" (March to Delhi) programme, each led by a different leader. All these marches will converge in Delhi on November 26, Constitution Day.

The Congress is aware that the parliament's winter session begins after November 26 - the party intends to raise the issue there and move an impeachment motion against the CEC. The Opposition is keeping a close watch on the Supreme Court, where Chief Justice of India Surya Kant is hearing a case concerning the Election Commission.

The court has issued notices to Gyanesh Kumar and the ECI. It observed that if decisions regarding the election are not reached unanimously, they could potentially be stayed. The Supreme Court, however, has currently declined to take immediate action against Gyanesh Kumar, noting that newspaper reports are not necessarily 100 per cent accurate. Hearings on the matter will continue.