BY SANJEEB KUMAR SAHOO
Before I discuss the INDIA bloc’s march from Parliament Street to the Election Commission headquarters and how Rahul Gandhi set up a temporary opposition office under the roof of a banyan tree at the Akashvani Bhawan premises in New Delhi for about nine hours on October 6, I would first like to mention a famous quote:
“I want to see young people in America feel the spirit of the 1960s, and find a way to get in the way. To find a way to get in trouble. Good trouble, necessary trouble.”— John Robert Lewis, an American civil rights activist and statesman who served in the United States House of Representatives, representing Georgia’s 5th congressional district, from 1987 until his death in 2020.
A member of the Democratic Party, Lewis was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986 and served 17 terms.John Robert Lewis’s broader principle was simple: when something is wrong, unfair, or unjust, don’t remain silent—do something.
Therefore, we must continue to demonstrate and protest whenever we see something that is wrong, unfair, or unjust. We must not remain silent—we must do something.
So, I strongly believe in what India’s Leader of the Opposition and top Congress leader is doing now for the needy people of India. Despite being born and brought up in a luxurious environment, his conduct on October 6 was like that of a common man. Not just today, but since 2022, he has acted as though he is totally dedicated to serving the needy people of India.
So, ladies and gentlemen, I reached Central Secretariat metro station at about 10:49 a.m. I then reached the road outside the new Parliament building, leading towards the PTI building through the Press Club exit gate, at about 10:56 a.m. on October 6. After spending five minutes there, I reached the area outside Akashvani Bhawan and the RBI building, where, in the middle of the road, INDIA bloc leaders were sitting and protesting against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his immediate removal over allegations of “vote chori.”
By the way, INDIA bloc MPs were sitting there because the police did not allow them to march towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) office. The road leading to the ECI office was only a few metres away from where the INDIA bloc MPs were sitting and protesting while demanding the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
And I would like to add something before saying more about Rahul Gandhi’s protest, which continued until 9 p.m. I strongly believe that politicians should retire from active politics before the age of 75, as a true politician needs to be available to protest on the streets at any moment for the people they represent. However, that was missing yesterday, as many politicians appeared to get tired within just a few minutes of sitting on the road. I say this because I observed that many politicians appeared to get tired after just one hour of protesting. Some did not join the protest at all and instead stood a few metres away from their colleagues, such as TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien and Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan, who were holding placards.
However, I also noticed that their behaviour towards senior journalists was not always appropriate. I strongly believe that TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien and Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan are not fit to continue serving in the Rajya Sabha and remain active in politics.
As I said, this is one reason why I believe politicians should consider retiring from active politics after a certain age. Many MPs appeared to get tired after walking only a few metres, while many others joined the protest using environment-friendly, battery-operated golf carts from Parliament House and then returned to Parliament House in the same carts from the protest site.
Among the many MPs from the southern states, I also noticed several who were very active while answering journalists’ questions. They responded without showing any ego, unlike what I observed in the behaviour of Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan, whose conduct towards a senior journalist was, in my view, not appropriate.
As The Indian Express reported on September 23, the INDIA bloc, led by Rahul Gandhi, had received support from several opposition parties over its “vote theft” or “vote chori” allegations. Subsequently, INDIA bloc leaders met at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on September 30.
I mean, on Wednesday, the Opposition under the INDIA bloc decided to take its fight over alleged vote theft to the people. The programme included “Save Democracy” marches from October 2 to 8, a march by Opposition MPs to the Election Commission on October 6, a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu in the second week of October, and a mega rally in Delhi on November 1.
The October 6 protest was therefore part of the decisions taken by INDIA bloc leaders on September 30. Opposition MPs and leaders held the protest in the national capital, New Delhi, demanding the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from the post of CEC.
Rahul Gandhi’s Office on Banyan Tree Roof for 9 Hours
Well, it is time to share an interesting and exciting story about what took place on October 6, when Rahul Gandhi entered Akashvani Bhawan very smartly, keeping out of the police’s sight. Many of you may be familiar with the game of “Chupan Chupai,” or “Hide and Seek,” which many of us played when we were children. Rahul Gandhi’s act on October 6 was just like a part of that “Hide and Seek” game.
So, the interesting part of the story was that Rahul Gandhi was heading towards the bus when Delhi Police detained India’s Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with INDIA bloc MPs, including some Congress MPs and leaders from other parties. He then smartly entered Akashvani Bhawan at 12:12 p.m. when he found that there was a way to enter. I also saw this, as I remained there until 9:45 p.m., when the protest was taking place.
Entering the Akashvani Bhawan premises was the second part of his strategy on October 6. It appeared to me that these days he is becoming more interested in leading protests more effectively, as this was his third notable political strategy in the last three months. The first was his unexpected protest on July 21 outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi, in support of the youth and demanding action against those who allegedly used lathis, pellet guns, and tear gas against protesters who were marching towards Parliament on July 20. The second was when India’s Opposition Leader, Rahul Gandhi, demonstrated his leadership qualities on August 21 by reaching the DCP’s office at Parliament Street Police Station.
Before entering the Akashvani Bhawan premises, as another part of his first strategy to reach the ECI office, Rahul Gandhi climbed atop a police barricade when the Delhi Police stopped him and other INDIA bloc MPs near the NITI Aayog office and the RBI building. I even heard some hardcore BJP beat reporters talking about how Rahul Gandhi had managed to get all the media footage with this act. In the meantime, Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee also joined him, although the Delhi Police had detained him before 12:12 p.m.
After entering the Akashvani Bhawan premises, he found a centuries-old banyan tree and sat with his party colleagues, including Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs such as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Deepender Singh Hooda, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Charanjit Singh Channi, Imran Pratapgarhi and Praniti Shinde. After a few minutes, Pawan Khera, K. C. Venugopal and others also joined Rahul Gandhi’s nine-hour protest under the shade of a banyan tree at the Akashvani Bhawan premises in New Delhi on October 6.
Rahul Gandhi effectively turned the area under the banyan tree into a temporary opposition office at the Akashvani Bhawan premises in New Delhi for about nine hours on October 6. I have a reason for describing it as a “temporary opposition office under the roof of a banyan tree at the Akashvani Bhawan premises.” From there, communication began between the Election Commission of India and Rahul Gandhi, which the ECI later mentioned in its 8:57 p.m. press release on October 6.
At around 6 p.m., many journalists came to know that an ECI official might come to meet Rahul Gandhi at his temporary office. There was also an expectation that Rahul Gandhi or a few INDIA bloc MPs might go to the ECI office to submit a memorandum demanding the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. However, that did not happen until around 9:05 p.m.
As the standoff continued between the Delhi Police and Rahul Gandhi’s temporary protest office, at around 9:13 p.m., Rahul Gandhi and other leaders were detained by the Delhi Police and taken to the Kingsway Camp police lines after being forcibly removed from the Akashvani Bhawan premises. However, all of them were released by the police shortly after 10 p.m.
Protest for the Removal of the ECI
The protest was organised on October 6 against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with the protesters demanding his immediate removal over allegations of “vote chori.” “Vote chori” has been a longstanding issue raised by Rahul Gandhi, who has been making allegations of electoral irregularities since 2025. On September 23, however, reports published by The Indian Express appeared to provide further context to some of Rahul Gandhi’s allegations regarding the functioning of the Election Commission of India.
In its September 23 report, The Indian Express reported concerns over what it described as Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s alleged “one-man rule” and unilateral decision-making, while also reporting that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections to some decisions.
The Indian Express further reported that Sandhu and Joshi had repeatedly raised concerns about decisions allegedly being taken without their knowledge, including issues relating to voter registration, electoral-roll deletions, appeals, and control of electoral-roll software.
Mess Created Due to SIR
Assembly elections took place in Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, during which many voter names were deleted. For example, in Bihar, around 69 lakh voter names were removed; more than 63 lakh voters were removed in West Bengal; and more than 10 lakh names were removed in Assam. In Kerala, 8,57,298 voter names were removed during the SIR process, while in Tamil Nadu, 97.37 lakh names were deleted under various categories. In Puducherry, 16,619 ineligible electors were deleted after the draft electoral roll.
Following those elections, new governments were formed in Bihar under the NDA alliance. The BJP formed the government in West Bengal after defeating the Trinamool Congress, which had governed the state for 15 years, while the BJP retained power in Assam.
In Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) made a historic electoral breakthrough in the May 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, emerging as the single-largest party with 108 out of 234 seats and forming the government with the support of the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and the Left parties (CPI and CPI(M)).
In Kerala, the United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Congress, returned to power after 10 years following a historic landslide victory in the May 2026 Assembly elections, winning 102 out of 140 seats.
Interestingly, in the April 2026 Assembly elections, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, successfully retained power in Puducherry, securing a consecutive term by winning 18 seats and crossing the majority mark in the 30-member House.
Why Only the CEC?
However, the Opposition is demanding the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of “one-man rule” and unilateral decision-making, while reportedly ignoring the suggestions of Election Commissioners (ECs) Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
But I would like to conclude by saying that, yes, I and National Political Mirror believe that not only should CEC Gyanesh Kumar be immediately removed from the post of Chief Election Commissioner, but Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi should also be removed from their respective positions. Appropriate action should be taken against all three in the national interest and for national security. In my view, all three appear to be following their own interpretations of the Constitution rather than adhering to the Constitution of India.
For example, the Election Commissioners reportedly complained to the Cabinet Secretary about CEC Gyanesh Kumar. However, under the constitutional framework, the CEC and ECs are appointed by the President of India and exercise their authority in accordance with the Constitution and applicable laws.
Now, I would like to end my thoughts by saying that the INDIA bloc’s October 6 protest was successfully led by Rahul Gandhi, who also effectively ran his temporary office as India’s Opposition Leader from beneath the roof of a centuries-old banyan tree at Akashvani Bhawan in Delhi on October 6.
Overall, it was a peaceful and successful protest, with the cooperation of the Delhi Police, who, in my observation, behaved very well with the INDIA bloc leaders and other protesters.
October 6: ECI Statement on Rahul Gandhi
1: Earlier today, October 6, during the march of certain political parties towards the Election Commission of India (ECI), it was learnt through the media that some Members of Parliament wished to meet the Commission along with their delegation. With regard to today’s developments, it is clarified that, till 4.00 PM today, no political party, through its representatives, had sought an appointment for a meeting with the Election Commission.
2:Thereafter, at around 4.00 PM, information was received from Delhi Police that a delegation of MPs, led by the Hon’ble Leader of the Opposition, Shri Rahul Gandhi, wished to meet the Commission and submit a memorandum.
3:In 2025, the Election Commission of India had laid down a procedure for meetings with political parties. All political parties had been informed of the same and they follow this procedure. Whenever a delegation of a political party, or a joint delegation of several parties, wishes to meet the Commission, it seeks an appointment through its duly Authorised Representative. The meeting is thereafter held at a time mutually agreed upon by both sides.
4:After 4.00 PM today, when the Election Commission was considering the above proposal for the above-mentioned meeting with the Hon’ble MPs, it was informed by the DCP, Delhi Police, that the meeting being sought was to be held with a group of 240 MPs and that the proposed venue was the Parliament House Annexe. The Election Commission considered this request as unusual and therefore, could not be accepted, as, in accordance with ECI protocol, such meetings are held only on the premises of the Election Commission of India.
5:ECI proposed that its senior-most officer on duty could be sent to the meeting venue to receive the memorandum of the Hon’ble MPs, which in itself would have been an unprecedented step. However, this offer was also declined by the Hon’ble MPs.
5: ECI respects the parliamentary and democratic processes of the country, as well as its own protocols and conventions, which are of utmost importance. Any political party may, at any time, request for a meeting with the Election Commission; and the Commission, keeping in view the suitability of time, schedules a date and time for the meeting. This is a regular practice.
