Former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, even as INDIA Bloc MPs marched on the Commission's headquarters in New Delhi to protest the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls — an exercise the Opposition claims has led to the wrongful deletion of voter names.

The March and Detentions

The Opposition march was led by Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who walked with INDIA Bloc MPs from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police stopped the procession near the NITI Aayog area, and several leaders — including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra — were briefly detained and subsequently released.

The action was part of the bloc's wider 'Save Democracy' campaign. The INDIA Bloc had pre-announced the 6 October march, with a larger rally in New Delhi scheduled for 1 November and parallel protests planned across the country.

Vaghela's Allegations Against the Commission

Speaking from Gandhinagar, Vaghela alleged that the Election Commission had functioned in a manner that allegedly favoured the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and questioned the constitutional body's independence. He pointed to the SIR exercise and past election conduct as instances where, he claimed, the Commission's actions had benefited the BJP politically.

Vaghela also criticised what he described as the growing influence of ideological and political affiliations on constitutional institutions, calling for greater scrutiny and transparency in appointments to such posts. Notably, he suggested the introduction of a mandatory cooling-off period for retired judges, IAS officers, IPS officers, and other senior government officials before they take up new public assignments — a reform demand that has gained traction across opposition parties in recent months.

On the Detentions and Democratic Dissent

Commenting on the brief detention of opposition leaders during the march, Vaghela argued that political leaders across generations had faced arrests during public movements and agitations. He said democratic dissent and protest are a natural part of public life and should be understood in that broader context, not treated as exceptional.

Vaghela's Political Journey

At 86, Vaghela brings unusual cross-partisan credibility to his critique. He began his political career as an RSS pracharak and was subsequently associated with the Jan Sangh and the BJP. After breaking with the BJP in 1995, he became Gujarat Chief Minister in 1996 with Congress support. He later formally joined the Indian National Congress (Congress), served as a Lok Sabha MP, and held the Textile Ministry portfolio during the UPA government. Vaghela parted ways with the Congress in 2017 and has since been associated with different political formations.

He is currently in discussions about a possible return to the Congress, with party leaders confirming that talks are underway. His renewed alignment — if formalised — could add symbolic weight to the Opposition's ongoing campaign against the SIR process.