INDIA bloc protest LIVE | Kharge to host leaders for lunch at 1.45 pm, to march to Rajghat in protest against CEC

The INDIA bloc is likely to hold a protest on Wednesday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls.

Summary

The INDIA bloc is likely to hold a protest on Wednesday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

This comes a day after Rahul Gandhi led INDIA bloc leaders to another resistance-packed day, moving from the opposition grouping's vegetarian lunch at Sagar Ratna, Janpath, to near Jantar Mantar in a procession of buses for a surprise dharna. 

On Tuesday, Rahul led an over eight-hour sit-in at Akashvani Bhawan, following an opposition march over alleged "vote chori", with nearly 250 protesters detained.

INDIA bloc MPs gather for second big meeting, to march to Rajghat in protest against CEC

Congress and other INDIA bloc MPs on Thursday began arriving at the restaurant for a second consecutive lunch meeting, with Opposition leaders set to discuss their next course of action in their ongoing protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The leaders are expected to proceed to Rajghat after the meeting.

Ahead of the lunch, security is beefed up outside the restaurant as Opposition leaders and MPs began arriving for the lunch meeting hosted by Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.

Earlier, Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh said the INDIA bloc would continue its protest against Gyanesh Kumar and asserted that the Opposition was "not going back".

"And today also, we have a strong protest, an aggressive protest against Gyanesh Kumar. We are not going back," Suresh said.

Suresh said the next strategy would be decided by the INDIA bloc leadership during the meeting and the subsequent protest would be led by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA bloc leaders.

(ANI)

#WATCH | Delhi: Congress MP K Suresh says, "... Today also, we are continuing our protest against Gyanesh Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner. Yesterday was the first day, and we had an aggressive protest against Gyanesh Kumar. Today, the INDIA Bloc leaders will meet and decide to continue the protest..."

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2026

AAP and DMK must set aside their differences with Cong to fight against 'dictatorship': Sena (UBT)

With the AAP and DMK staying away from the INDIA bloc's protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday urged the two parties to set aside their differences with the Congress and fight against "dictatorship".

In an editorial in Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana', the party said the entire country has been witnessing protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Read the full story here

Security tightened at Raj Ghat in Delhi as Congress and Opposition MPs are expected to reach here to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi

#WATCH | Delhi | Police personnel deployed at Raj Ghat as Congress and Opposition MPs are expected to reach here to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi https://t.co/gl3yupaQRd

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2026

INDIA bloc holds 12-hour bandh in Odisha

The 12-hour Odisha bandh called by political parties under INDIA bloc crippled normal life and disrupted transport services across Odisha on Thursday.

In Bhubaneswar, the protestors held demonstrations near Station Square, burnt tyres and stopped the citizens, including women, who were traveling on their own vehicles.

The bandh has been called by the opposition parties under the INDIA bloc to demand repealing the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026 (MMDR Amendment Act), dismissal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, resignation of Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityanand Gond and to provide immediate relief for flood victims.

(ENS)

#WATCH | Bhubaneswar, Odisha: State Congress President Bhakta Charan Das says, "... A bandh is being observed in Odisha demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar and in protest against Rahul Gandhi’s arrest yesterday. We are wearing black badges and standing in a road blockade. In Bhubaneswar, we have relaxed the bandh slightly to avoid inconvenience to tourists, but the bandh is being observed across the state, in every district, town and panchayat headquarters..."

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2026

Delhi Police constable alleges assault during opposition protest on Wednesday

A Delhi Police constable, Ankit Kasana, on Thursday alleged that he was attacked and bitten by demonstrators during an opposition protest near Jantar Mantar on Wednesday. 

Constable Ankit Kasana works with the Parliament Street police station and was deployed for crowd control near Jantar Mantar follwing the INDIA bloc MPs' demonstration. The situation escalated after security personnel detained Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Adressing the media, constable Kasana alleged that some Congress supporters blocked the way and would lie down in front of the car.

Kasana further added that about 30 to 35 people, both men and women, surrounded him while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was being detained. He alleged that the group abused him, tore his uniform, scratched him with their fingernails and bit him.

(ANI)

Tejashwi Yadav leads INDIA bloc ‘Aakrosh March’ against CEC in Bihar

INDIA bloc leaders, led by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, took out an ‘Aakrosh March’ on Thursday to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The protesters marched from Shaheed Smarak in front of the state assembly towards Lok Bhavan but were stopped by police near the office of the chief electoral officer, officials said.

The agitation, branded as 'Aakrosh March', is centred around the demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

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Mallikarjun Kharge to host INDIA bloc lunch for second day

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is hosting a lunch for INDIA bloc leaders at a restaurant in Delhi on Thursday for the second consecutive day, sources said.

The lunch, scheduled at Moets in Connaught Place's Outer Circle at 1:45 pm, is likely to be followed by a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the sources said.