Brief
INDIA bloc protests in Kashmir over alleged vote‑chori as BJP counters in Jammu
Congress, NC and PDP rallied in Srinagar over alleged electoral roll irregularities, while BJP staged a separate protest in Jammu targeting a Congress MP.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Srinagar and Jammu saw opposing political rallies on Saturday, 10 October 2026, as the INDIA bloc protested alleged "vote chori" in the Kashmir Valley and the BJP launched a counter‑agitation in the winter capital.
What happened
In Srinagar, workers from the Congress, National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) assembled at the Congress headquarters on Moulana Azad Road, chanting slogans against the BJP‑led Centre and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They demanded Kumar’s resignation, accusing the Election Commission of undermining democratic processes. Police blocked their attempt to march onto the main road, confining the demonstration to the party office complex before it dispersed without incident.
Similar marches were reported from several district headquarters across the Valley, indicating a coordinated effort by the opposition alliance.
In Jammu, BJP leaders and workers, joined by members of the women’s wing, burned an effigy of Rahul Gandhi near the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Wazarat Road. Former minister Priya Sethi and other senior BJP figures led the demonstration, which also sought action against Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, dismissed by Jawaharlal Nehru University over sexual‑harassment allegations. When protesters tried to march toward the Congress headquarters on Residency Road, police stopped them, prompting a sit‑in and slogans against Congress leadership.
What was said
The source did not provide direct quotations, but noted that BJP leaders accused the Congress of shielding Akoijam and demanded his expulsion from Parliament, while also pressing Rahul Gandhi for a clear public response.
How it came about
The protests follow a series of INDIA bloc actions against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, including a sit‑in at Jantar Mantar on 7 October 2026 (see Felo’s earlier coverage) and a planning meeting in New Delhi on 29 September 2026 to draft a motion for the CEC’s removal. The BJP’s counter‑agitation in Jammu ties into a separate controversy surrounding Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, whose alleged misconduct has been highlighted by the party.
Key facts
- INDIA bloc parties held rallies in Srinagar demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. (deccanchronicle.com)
- Police blocked the Srinagar march, limiting it to the Congress headquarters complex. (deccanchronicle.com)
- BJP workers burned an effigy of Rahul Gandhi in Jammu and demanded action against Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam. (deccanchronicle.com)
- Both protests were stopped by police, leading to sit‑ins and slogans. (deccanchronicle.com)
Sources
- [1] deccanchronicle.com — originally reported as “Kashmir Valley Witnesses Dueling Protests As INDIA Bloc marches Against ‘Vote Chori’”
