INDIA Bloc leaders detained in Hyderabad over CEC resignation demand
Synopsis
Telangana's ruling Congress and INDIA Bloc partners took to the streets of Hyderabad on 8 October, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter deletions in the SIR process. Police detained top leaders including state Congress president Mahesh Kumar Goud before the march could reach Lok Bhavan — escalating a nationwide opposition agitation to a state-government-backed confrontation.
Key Takeaways
INDIA Bloc leaders were detained in Hyderabad on 8 October 2026 during the 'Save Democracy' march.
Protestors demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged Special Intensive Revision (SIR) irregularities.
Telangana Congress President Mahesh Kumar Goud , MLC Kodandaram , CPI MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao , and CPI-M state Secretary John Wesley were among those detained.
Congress alleged attempts to delete 93 lakh out of 3.5 crore voters from Telangana's electoral rolls.
Goud alleged BJP was conducting 'Vote Chori' in Telangana in collusion with the BRS , calling it the 'next target' after Bihar and West Bengal.
Police barricaded the march at Khairatabad crossroads , preventing protestors from reaching Lok Bhavan .
Leaders of the Congress and other constituents of the INDIA Bloc were detained in Hyderabad on Thursday, 8 October as they attempted to march towards Lok Bhavan — the official residence of the Telangana Governor — demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Police erected barricades and detained several senior leaders before they could reach their destination.
Key Detentions and Who Was Held
Telangana Congress President Mahesh Kumar Goud, MLC Kodandaram, CPI MLA and party state Secretary Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao, and CPI-M state Secretary John Wesley were among those whisked away in police vehicles after they attempted to break through the police cordon at Khairatabad crossroads. A large number of police personnel had been deployed in anticipation of the march.
The 'Save Democracy' March: What Happened
Protestors gathered at the Indira Gandhi statue on Necklace Road and marched towards Lok Bhavan, carrying party flags and raising slogans against the CEC and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Several Telangana ministers — including Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar, Sridhar Babu, Adluri Laxman Kumar, Vakati Srihari, and Mohammed Azharuddin — participated in the demonstration alongside workers of the ruling Congress, CPI, CPI-M, and allied parties. Banners carried by participants bore slogans including 'Desh Drohi', 'Vote Chor Gyanesh Kumar', and 'Impeach Gyanesh Kumar'.
What Congress Alleged
After being detained, Goud addressed the media, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre was acting against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, MP Priyanka Gandhi, and other protestors in Delhi. He further alleged that attempts were being made to delete 93 lakh out of 3.5 crore voters in Telangana through the SIR exercise. 'This is a fascist approach. People will continue their protest to remove such fascist leaders from power,' Goud said. He also alleged that BJP was pursuing what he termed 'Vote Chori' in Telangana in collusion with the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), claiming the state was 'the next target' after Bihar and West Bengal.
Broader Context
The protest in Hyderabad is part of a nationwide agitation by INDIA Bloc constituents against the SIR process, which opposition parties allege is being used to selectively remove voter names from electoral rolls in states they govern. This comes amid escalating political tensions between the Centre and opposition-ruled states over the Election Commission's voter roll revision drive. Notably, similar protests have been reported in Delhi, where police have also reportedly detained opposition leaders. The Hyderabad episode marks the entry of Telangana's ruling coalition — itself a Congress-led government — directly into the agitation, adding state-level institutional weight to what had so far been an opposition street movement.
Point of View
It would represent one of the largest voter-roll purges in recent Indian electoral history. What is missing from all sides is granular, verifiable data — the Election Commission has not publicly detailed its SIR methodology, and the opposition has not produced ward-level deletion figures to support its claims. Until both sides produce numbers that can be independently audited, the row risks being fought entirely on political terrain rather than on the evidentiary ground where it matters most.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were INDIA Bloc leaders detained in Hyderabad on 8 October?
They were detained after attempting to break through police barricades during the 'Save Democracy' march aimed at reaching Lok Bhavan to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police deployed large numbers of personnel and stopped the march at Khairatabad crossroads.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) at the centre of this controversy?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an Election Commission of India exercise to update and clean up electoral rolls. Opposition parties allege it is being used to selectively delete voter names in non-BJP-ruled states, with Congress claiming up to 93 lakh names could be removed from Telangana's rolls of 3.5 crore voters.
Who are the key leaders detained during the Hyderabad protest?
Telangana Congress President Mahesh Kumar Goud, MLC Kodandaram, CPI MLA and state Secretary Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao, and CPI-M state Secretary John Wesley were among the prominent leaders detained. Several Telangana cabinet ministers also participated in the march, though it was not immediately clear if they were detained.
What did Congress allege about the BJP and the BRS in Telangana?
Telangana Congress President Goud alleged that the BJP was conducting 'Vote Chori' in Telangana in collusion with the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), calling Telangana the 'next target' after Bihar and West Bengal. He also alleged that the Centre was acting against opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi who were protesting in Delhi.
How does the Hyderabad protest fit into the wider INDIA Bloc agitation?
The Hyderabad march is part of a coordinated nationwide INDIA Bloc agitation against the SIR voter roll process. Similar protests have been reported in Delhi and other cities. The Hyderabad episode is notable because it involves the Telangana state government — led by Congress — lending official weight to what began as an opposition street movement.
