Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who was protesting, has been detained.

While Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, clutching a copy of the Indian Constitution, lay on the road, the scene of Delhi Police officers lifting Rahul Gandhi and putting him into a police bus was witnessed on October 7, 2026, in Delhi's Windsor Place. This was the climax of the massive protest launched by the opposition 'INDIA' alliance against the Indian Election Commission.

On the afternoon of October 7, after a solidarity luncheon organized by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, police blocked MPs as they were heading towards the Jantar Mantar protest site. During the ensuing unrest, Mumtaz Patel protested by climbing onto the bonnet of a police bus, while TMC MP Mahua Moitra displayed an alleged injury she sustained from the police. "This is how they treat MPs who ask to meet the Election Commissioners. Police officers scratched and injured me, then dragged me to the ground," Priyanka alleged.

Rahul Gandhi was taken to Barakhamba Police Station, while Priyanka and others were taken to Chhatrasal Stadium, detained, and released after 8 PM. This was merely a preventive detention, and no one was remanded. According to Reuters, this was the third time they had been detained within two days. The previous day (Oct. 6), nearly 250 MPs marching from Parliament to the Election Commission bypassed police barricades and entered the nearby 'Akashvani Bhavan' premises, where they remained for 7 to 9 hours. In connection with this, the police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Rahul, Priyanka, and others. "Every FIR filed against me is a medal for me. I have 45 FIRs against me, and my goal is to take it to 100," Rahul responded fearlessly.

The opposition is protesting, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing an alleged "vote theft" that occurred through the electoral roll revision process (SIR) which began in June 2025. According to BBC reports, over 130 million names have already been removed from the draft lists. The BJD party, which joined the protest, alleged that 2.75 million names were cut from Odisha state alone. Meanwhile, the Indian Express newspaper revealed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi have formally protested in writing 14 times, stating that the commission's decisions are made without their knowledge. The commission stated that all decisions were taken unanimously.

The Election Commission and the Bharatiya Janata Party reject all these allegations. BJP MP Sambit Patra stated that the protesters are attempting to change power through anarchy by attacking a constitutional institution.

In a context where there is no two-thirds majority to bring an impeachment, the main demands of the Congress are the removal of the Chief Commissioner, the cancellation of the SIR process, and a return to the paper ballot system. Rahul Gandhi, after his release, stated that this was happening due to the 'fear' of the ruling party, mentioning the names of Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah, and Mohan Bhagwat. The INDIA alliance, which has requested an opportunity to meet President Droupadi Murmu regarding this matter, has decided to continue its street protests on October 8 as well.