Congress, AAP, Left to march to Delhi CEO's office on 7 October
Synopsis
A day after Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained at police barricades outside the Election Commission, Congress, AAP, and Left parties are regrouping for a fresh joint march to Delhi's CEO office on 7 October — broadening an opposition campaign that now spans street protests, sit-ins, and a demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over the SIR electoral roll controversy.
Key Takeaways
Congress , AAP , and Left parties will jointly march to the Delhi CEO's office at Kashmere Gate on 7 October at 1 pm .
The protest targets alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were briefly detained on Tuesday, 6 October after INDIA bloc MPs were stopped from reaching the Election Commission of India headquarters.
Gandhi said around 300 MPs from both Houses were prevented from meeting the CEC.
AAP and DMK had stayed away from Tuesday's protest but AAP is now joining Wednesday's march.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju called the opposition's protests 'drama' and urged parties to focus on serving citizens.
The Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Left parties are set to jointly march to the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office at Kashmere Gate on 7 October at 1 pm, according to party sources. The demonstration is part of a sustained opposition campaign against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
What Triggered the Protests
The opposition's anger centres on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which several parties allege is being conducted in an irregular and politically motivated manner. Critics argue the revision could lead to large-scale deletion or manipulation of voter data, particularly in Delhi, ahead of future elections. The INDIA bloc has been demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, calling for transparency in the revision process.
Tuesday's Protest and Detentions
The march follows a dramatic escalation on Tuesday, 6 October, when INDIA bloc MPs attempted to march toward the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters in New Delhi, only to be stopped by security personnel midway. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi climbed police barricades and waved the tricolour in a visible act of defiance. Gandhi, along with his sister and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were briefly detained by police, according to television reports.
Speaking to reporters after being stopped, Rahul Gandhi said approximately 300 MPs from both Houses of Parliament had been prevented from meeting the Election Commission. He alleged that the MPs wished to meet CEC Gyanesh Kumar and his two colleagues but were blocked from proceeding to the Commission's office.
The INDIA bloc leaders, including the Gandhis, subsequently staged a sit-in at Akashvani Bhavan, from where they were removed by police and detained on Tuesday night.
AAP and DMK Rejoin the Campaign
Notably, both AAP and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had stayed away from Tuesday's protest by the INDIA bloc. Their decision to participate in Wednesday's march to the CEO's office marks a reunion of opposition ranks. The previous week, AAP and several Left-wing student organisations — including the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Students' Association (AISA) — had already staged a separate protest against the CEC at Jantar Mantar, during which several demonstrators were detained.
BJP Hits Back, Calls It Drama
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dismissed the opposition's campaign, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju labelling it 'drama.' Rijiju urged the Congress and other opposition parties to 'stop their drama' and instead focus on serving the people if they wished to earn a public mandate. The government has not yet responded formally to the opposition's specific demands regarding the SIR process.
What Comes Next
With AAP now formally joining the protest front, the 7 October march to the CEO's office at Kashmere Gate could see a larger turnout than Tuesday's action. The opposition's next move will likely depend on whether the Election Commission responds to their demands or the Centre addresses concerns about the SIR process. This is a developing situation that could intensify as Delhi's electoral calendar draws closer.
Point of View
Not policy reversals. The Election Commission has so far remained unmoved, and the BJP's 'drama' framing risks sticking if the protest cycle repeats without a clear escalation path or concrete legal challenge. The deeper question — whether the SIR process is genuinely flawed or a legitimate administrative exercise — has been drowned out by street theatre, and that gap is where credibility will ultimately be won or lost.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Congress, AAP, and Left parties marching to the Delhi CEO's office?
The parties are protesting alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The joint march to the Delhi CEO's office at Kashmere Gate is scheduled for 7 October at 1 pm.
What happened during the INDIA bloc protest on 6 October?
INDIA bloc MPs, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, attempted to march to the Election Commission of India headquarters in New Delhi but were stopped by security personnel. Gandhi climbed police barricades and waved the tricolour; he and his sister were briefly detained by police.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The Special Intensive Revision is a process conducted by the Election Commission to update and verify voter rolls. Opposition parties allege the current SIR is being conducted irregularly and could lead to manipulation of voter data, particularly in Delhi.
Why did AAP initially stay away from Tuesday's protest?
AAP and the DMK chose not to participate in the INDIA bloc's 6 October protest at the Election Commission headquarters. However, AAP is now set to join the 7 October march to the CEO's office, indicating it has rejoined the broader opposition campaign.
What has the BJP said about the opposition protests?
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed the protests as 'drama' and urged the Congress and other opposition parties to stop and instead focus on selflessly serving the people if they wished to receive a public mandate.
