Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, levelled sharp allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI), claiming the poll body was neither functioning impartially nor operating in accordance with the Constitution. His remarks came ahead of an INDIA bloc protest march from Parliament to the ECI headquarters in New Delhi, targeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of 'vote theft' linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

What Akhilesh Yadav Alleged

Speaking to reporters before the march, Yadav maintained that concerns about the ECI's conduct were longstanding and not being raised for the first time. He accused the poll body of selectively favouring the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying the Commission appeared to treat only BJP members as legitimate voters.

'The Election Commission wants to believe that only those who are members of the Bharatiya Janata Party are Indian citizens. The Election Commission also seems to believe, as has been seen several times, that only those who are BJP members can vote,' Yadav said.

He further alleged that the BJP had benefited from the misuse of security forces and financial resources during elections, citing specific incidents in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Kundarki, Ambedkar Nagar, and Ayodhya as instances of alleged booth looting. 'So, the ECI is not unbiased. The ECI is not working under the Constitution,' he said.

BJP Office Remark and ECI Proximity Claims

In a particularly pointed aside, Yadav questioned why the BJP required a large office in the national capital, sarcastically suggesting the party 'could have taken a floor in the ECI building and worked from there.' The remark was aimed at underscoring his allegation of proximity between the ruling party and the constitutional body that oversees elections.

This is not the first time Opposition leaders have raised questions about the ECI's independence. Criticism of the poll body has intensified since the appointment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, with several Opposition parties contesting the selection process itself.

One Nation, One Election in the Crosshairs

Yadav also took aim at the BJP's push for One Nation, One Election, alleging the proposal was designed to consolidate alleged electoral malpractice into a single window. 'Not One Nation, One Election; they want to do all the malfunctioning at one time so that they can rule for five years, and there is no need for any probe,' he said. Critics of the proposal have previously argued it would centralise electoral power, though the government has maintained the move is aimed at reducing administrative costs and disruption.

The INDIA Bloc Protest March

Opposition INDIA bloc Members of Parliament staged a protest march on Tuesday, proceeding from Parliament House to the ECI headquarters in New Delhi. The demonstration follows a coordinated series of nationwide campaigns against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The call for the march was issued after a meeting of 19 Opposition parties on 30 September 2026, where concerns over alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls were collectively raised.

The protest marks one of the most organised Opposition mobilisations against the ECI in recent years. With state elections on the horizon in several key constituencies, the political stakes around electoral credibility are expected to remain high in the weeks ahead.