INDIA bloc MPs march to Jantar Mantar demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s removal

Around 300 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs gathered for a sit‑in at Jantar Mantar, citing alleged vote‑chori and demanding the CEC’s ouster.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:38:07 GMT

On Wednesday, Oct 7, 2026, opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc travelled by bus to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to stage a sit‑in protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging “vote chori” and demanding his removal, according to New Indian Express reports.

What happened

The MPs assembled for a solidarity lunch hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at a Janpath restaurant before boarding buses. They arrived at Jantar Mantar where heavy security, including Delhi Police, Rapid Action Force and CISF, had set up barricades. Rahul Gandhi told reporters that roughly 300 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs had sought a meeting with the Election Commissioners but were denied permission to protest near the poll panel’s office. The protest follows an eight‑hour sit‑in at Akashvani Bhawan the previous day, which was halted by police.

What the reports add

New Indian Express’s brief article notes the MPs’ demand that Kumar is “not a legitimate Election Commissioner” and mentions the earlier eight‑hour dharna. The live‑updates piece adds that security was beefed up around Jantar Mantar and that nearly 250 protesters were detained during the prior sit‑in. Both pieces cite Rahul Gandhi’s statement, but the live‑updates article also records Congress MP Shafi Parambil saying, “The protest will continue.”

What was said

Rahul Gandhi told reporters, “We will protest at Jantar Mantar… for us Gyanesh Kumar is not a legitimate Election Commissioner,” as reported by New Indian Express. Mallikarjun Kharge said the opposition was united in protecting people’s rights. Shafi Parambil added, “The protest will continue,” according to the live‑updates feed.

How it came about

The protest follows a series of opposition actions against the CEC. On Sep 29, 2026, the INDIA bloc met in New Delhi to draft a motion for Kumar’s removal (Felo coverage). Earlier, the Nagaland Congress demanded Kumar’s resignation over alleged unilateral decisions on the Special Intensive Regulation (SIR) of electoral rolls (Felo coverage). Actor Prakash Raj also urged impeachment of the CEC in late September (Felo coverage), adding cultural criticism of the SIR exercise on Oct 3 (Felo coverage). These developments set the stage for the Oct 7 sit‑in.

Key facts

Around 300 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs marched to Jantar Mantar to protest CEC Gyanesh Kumar. (newindianexpress.com)
Rahul Gandhi said the CEC is not legitimate and demanded his removal. (newindianexpress.com)
Heavy security, including Delhi Police, RAF and CISF, was deployed at Jantar Mantar. (newindianexpress.com)
The protest follows an eight‑hour sit‑in at Akashvani Bhawan halted by police. (newindianexpress.com)