Mamata, Kejriwal, Pinarayi detained in Delhi amid CEC protest crackdown
Synopsis
In one of the most sweeping opposition crackdowns in recent memory, police detained Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, Pinarayi Vijayan, and several other senior leaders on the same morning — all trying to reach a single protest site in Delhi. The trigger: demands for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged electoral roll irregularities. The INDIA bloc is calling it a fight against 'vote chori'; the scale of the detentions is being read as a measure of how seriously the Centre is taking that charge.
Key Takeaways
Mamata Banerjee , Arvind Kejriwal , and Pinarayi Vijayan were detained in New Delhi on 10 October during a protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar .
Banerjee and five TMC MPs — including Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen — were taken away in a police bus from South Avenue .
Kejriwal's residence was surrounded by Delhi Police from morning; he was detained the moment he stepped out.
Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI-M General Secretary M.A.
Baby were taken to a detention centre at Chhatrasal Stadium .
CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke , Saurav Das , and Ashutosh Ranka were detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport earlier in the day.
The protest demanded CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Several senior opposition leaders — including former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan — were detained by police on Saturday, 10 October in New Delhi, as they attempted to join a protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The protest, called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanded Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Mamata Banerjee Detained at South Avenue
Mamata Banerjee was stopped by police at South Avenue in central Delhi and sat in protest at a bus stand after being prevented from proceeding further. She was subsequently detained along with five All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs, including Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen, and taken away in a police bus.
In a notable gesture, Banerjee sat with a band-aid on her mouth during the protest. Speaking from inside the police bus, she said: 'The government is misbehaving with us. We, the INDIA bloc, will continue to fight to strengthen people's voice.'
Kejriwal's Residence Cordoned Off, Detained on Exit
Arvind Kejriwal's residence had been surrounded by Delhi Police since morning. He was detained the moment he attempted to step out to join the demonstration. Before being taken in, Kejriwal told reporters: 'There are police personnel and paramilitary forces everywhere. People are not being allowed to leave their homes. The police are picking people up as they walk on the streets. No one is being allowed to go anywhere. They have created an atmosphere of authoritarianism across the country.'
Kejriwal also made a direct appeal to citizens, stating: 'The youth of the country have risen. I request people to come to Delhi however they can to stop this vote chori; otherwise this country and this democracy won't be saved.'
Other Opposition Figures Detained Across the Capital
Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M] MP John Brittas were detained and taken to a detention centre at Chhatrasal Stadium. CPI-M General Secretary M.A. Baby was also among those detained.
Earlier in the day, CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka were intercepted by police at Indira Gandhi International Airport while on their way to Jantar Mantar to stage the demonstration. Prominent YouTuber and commentator Dhruv Rathee and activist Ratna Singh were also reportedly detained.
What the Protest Is About
The opposition's ire is directed at CEC Gyanesh Kumar, whom protesters accuse of overseeing alleged irregularities during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls — a process critics argue has disenfranchised voters ahead of upcoming elections. The INDIA bloc has characterised the controversy as 'vote chori' (vote theft) and is demanding Kumar's resignation.
This comes amid broader tensions between the ruling establishment and the opposition coalition over the independence and conduct of election management bodies. Notably, the scale of Saturday's pre-emptive detentions — spanning multiple senior leaders across parties and states — underscores how politically charged the CEC dispute has become. With the INDIA bloc vowing to continue its campaign, further confrontations appear likely in the days ahead.
Point of View
A former Chief Minister of Delhi, a former Chief Minister of Kerala, and a CPI-M General Secretary — all on a single Saturday morning — is extraordinary by any measure. What is notable is the pre-emptive character of the action: Kejriwal's home was cordoned off before he moved, CJP leaders were intercepted at the airport. The Centre appears to be treating the CEC controversy not as a routine political dispute but as a threat serious enough to warrant shutting down movement in the capital. Whether that judgement hardens or softens the INDIA bloc's support base will be the real political test of the day's events.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were opposition leaders detained in Delhi on 10 October?
Multiple opposition leaders were detained on 10 October while attempting to join a protest in New Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Police blocked leaders from reaching the protest site and took several into custody.
Who was detained during the anti-CEC protest?
Among those detained were former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and five TMC MPs including Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI-M MP John Brittas, and CPI-M General Secretary M.A. Baby. CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka were detained at IGI Airport.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a process conducted by the Election Commission of India to update and verify voter rolls. Opposition parties have alleged that the SIR under CEC Gyanesh Kumar was carried out with irregularities that could disenfranchise voters, and are demanding his resignation over these concerns.
What did Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal say after being detained?
Mamata Banerjee, speaking from inside a police bus, said 'The government is misbehaving with us' and pledged the INDIA bloc would 'continue to fight to strengthen people's voice.' Kejriwal, before being detained, alleged an 'atmosphere of authoritarianism' and urged citizens to travel to Delhi to 'stop this vote chori' and save democracy.
What has the INDIA bloc said about CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
The INDIA bloc has demanded the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that electoral roll irregularities under his watch amount to 'vote chori' (vote theft). Opposition leaders across parties — including TMC, AAP, and CPI-M — have characterised the issue as a threat to democratic integrity and vowed to continue their campaign.
