Live: Security beefed-up in Delhi as INDIA bloc gears up for bigger protest

Opposition protestOpposition Protest Live Updates: INDIA bloc MPs will stage a bigger protest on Thursday against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar after Opposition leaders were stopped from reaching Jantar Mantar during a coordinated mobilisation on Wednesday. The decision was taken after a luncheon meeting hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, with parties planning to bring more MPs into the agitation. Three buses carrying MPs were stopped at Ashoka Road, following which leaders got off and staged a sit-in, raising slogans demanding Kumar’s resignation. Several Opposition leaders were detained. The parties also discussed seeking a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu, with a delegation of 10 leaders expected to meet her. Wednesday’s protest came a day after INDIA bloc MPs marched towards the Election Commission headquarters and staged an eight-hour sit-in at Akashvani Bhawan. Follow Indiatoday.in for latest updates....Read MoreLoP in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, party MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during a sit-in protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at the roundabout near Shangri-La hotel, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (PTI Photo)Oct 8, 2026 07:23 ISTINDIA Bloc Protest Live: What happened in 2 days of Opposition protestsOn day 1 of the protest, around 300 INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament towards the ECI headquarters and later continued their protest at Akashvani Bhawan for nearly eight hours. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several other Opposition leaders were detained after the protest. On day 2 of the protest, over 200 Opposition MPs gathered for lunch at Janpath before attempting to march to Jantar Mantar. Police stopped the MPs’ buses at the Janpath-Ashoka Road intersection, with heavy barricading bringing traffic in central Delhi to a halt. Opposition leaders staged a sit-in on the road, with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra among those who joined the protest. Several leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Derek O’Brien, were detained as the protest continued. Delhi Police said 91 INDIA bloc leaders and workers were detained. Leaders said the protests would continue until CEC Gyanesh Kumar resigns and announced another mobilisation for Thursday (day 3). INDIA bloc parties have also sought a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu over the SIR exercise and their demand for Kumar’s removal. BJP leaders accused the Opposition of creating an atmosphere of “anarchy” and questioned its objections to the SIR process.