'Gyanesh, it's done, bro': Rahul Gandhi scales police barricades as India's opposition bloc is stopped from reaching Election Commission
From the Newshound archive · first published 6 October 2026 · last updated 7 October 2026.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi sit in protest inside the Akashvani Bhawan premises. Police detained the pair along with dozens of opposition lawmakers after they attempted to march to Election Commission headquarters…
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi climbed police barricades and waved the national flag as Delhi security forces blocked a 300-strong march of INDIA bloc MPs demanding Election Commission chief Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. Gandhi later pushed his way into the Akashvani Bhawan broadcasting complex after being turned away, sitting under a tree with sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who had reportedly broken free from a detention bus.
The march, called over the disputed Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, drew 300 MPs but key allies DMK and AAP stayed away, exposing cracks in the INDIA alliance.
Opposition MPs carried cutouts showing Kumar in an RSS uniform and chanted 'Vote chor, gaddi chhod' — 'vote thief, leave the throne.'
The confrontation followed a Supreme Court ruling cited by opposition parties as evidence Kumar had illegally altered electoral forms.
