As the Opposition INDIA bloc's march-turned-sit-in protest in New Delhi continued on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Aradhana Misra Mona praised Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for consolidating all major alliance partners in the demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The protest, which drew senior leaders and Members of Parliament from across the INDIA bloc, was centred on demands for accountability over the reported deletion of voter rolls.

Misra Mona's Praise for Rahul Gandhi

Aradhana Misra Mona said the alliance's show of unity was a significant political moment. 'INDIA bloc worked really well today. I want to congratulate the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for bringing everyone together. He got the support of all the major leaders and MPs of all the parties, which signifies that whatever the Election Commission did following orders of the Bharatiya Janata Party has to be stopped now or else they should be ready to face the consequences of the same,' she said.

Protests, Detentions and 'Death of Democracy'

The UP Congress chief sharply criticised the police action that prevented INDIA bloc leaders from reaching the Election Commission of India (ECI) office. 'The way the police force stopped the leaders was sheer death of democracy. The protestors wanted to reach the Election Commission's office to ask questions on behalf of the nation,' Misra Mona said. She specifically condemned the manner in which Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was stopped, calling it 'completely undemocratic.' The barring of other bloc leaders from entering the ECI office was, she said, 'disgraceful.'

The Voter Deletion Controversy

At the heart of the protest is the Opposition's allegation that more than 13 crore votes were deleted from electoral rolls — a charge they lay squarely at the door of the Election Commission. 'Who is answerable for deleting more than 13 crore votes? The Opposition is responsible for asking these questions, and they were fulfilling the same,' Misra Mona said. The INDIA bloc has argued that the scale of the alleged deletions warrants a direct, public explanation from the CEC.

Congress, BJP and the Political Undercurrent

Responding to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s reaction to the march, Misra Mona invoked the Congress party's historical record. She stated that the BJP, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were 'known for their actions during the freedom struggle,' asserting that the Gandhi family had no obligation to prove its dedication to these organisations. 'Congress party has sacrificed a lot for this nation. Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi's family members have sacrificed themselves for this country. They are trying to protect the Constitution of this country,' she added. She also accused the BJP of exploiting religious symbolism for political gain.

What Comes Next

The sit-in protest signals an escalation in the Opposition's campaign against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, and the INDIA bloc is expected to press its demands through Parliament and further public mobilisation. Misra Mona concluded with a forward-looking assertion: 'Gradually, the whole nation will stand with them.' Whether the protest translates into a sustained political movement or institutional response to the voter-deletion allegations remains to be seen.