RAJ GHAT BECOMES INDIA BLOC’S NEW BATTLEGROUND AS CEC RESIGNATION PROTEST ENTERS THIRD DAY
October 8, 2026
The INDIA bloc intensified its campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday as Opposition MPs and leaders staged a peaceful sit-in at Raj Ghat in New Delhi, demanding his resignation and vowing to continue their protests.
The demonstration marked the third consecutive day of Opposition mobilisation over the Election Commission and the electoral-roll revision. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and several other INDIA bloc leaders, reached Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial and joined the protest.
The leaders paid floral tributes and prayed at Raj Ghat, calling for what they described as greater wisdom from the government and the Chief Election Commissioner and for protection of voters’ rights and democracy. They subsequently sat in protest at the memorial.
Rahul Gandhi escalated his criticism, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Gyanesh Kumar had “hijacked” the country through what he described as a conspiracy. He accused them of undermining the Constitution and stealing votes, and said they would ultimately be held accountable.
Kharge alleged that the BJP government was taking away citizens’ right to vote and said the Opposition wanted to bring the issue before the country. Other INDIA bloc leaders reiterated that their protest would continue until Kumar resigned.
The latest mobilisation follows two days of confrontation in the capital. On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi staged an eight-hour sit-in at the Akashvani Bhawan complex, while on Wednesday Opposition MPs were stopped during their attempted march and later shifted their protest to Jantar Mantar.
CPI(M) leader John Brittas said the protest would continue on Friday, while CPI leader P. Sandosh Kumar also called for Kumar’s resignation. Other Opposition leaders stressed that the INDIA bloc remained united in its campaign.
The leaders are expected to continue their protest on Friday, with a possible meeting at Parliament House in the morning. The Opposition has not disclosed its detailed next strategy but has made clear that its mobilisation over the Election Commission and electoral-roll issues will continue.
