A dramatic showdown unfolded in the national capital for the second time as nearly 300 opposition MPs, led by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, were stopped by Delhi Police and paramilitary forces while marching toward the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters. The protest, aimed at denouncing alleged voter list manipulations and “vote theft” during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, escalated into a tense confrontation, with several leaders climbing over police barricades before being detained.
Multi-Party Rally Blocked at Makar Dwar
The demonstration, which began at Parliament’s Makar Dwar, saw participation from 25 political parties including Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Trinamool Congress (TMC), DMK, and AAP. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, along with TMC MPs Sagarika Ghose and Mahua Moitra, scaled barricades in an attempt to reach Nirvachan Sadan. Yadav accused police of curbing democratic freedoms and insisted the opposition was ready to meet the ECI if permitted. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh echoed this, stating that the entire opposition intended to approach the Commission together.
Key Leaders Taken Into Custody
Tensions heightened when Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other senior leaders were detained and taken away in buses. The opposition condemned the move as an attempt to suppress their demands. Earlier, the ECI had rejected a proposal for a 30-member joint delegation to meet at noon, sticking instead to a smaller, pre-scheduled meeting. Opposition leaders maintained that a collective memorandum submission was essential.
Allegations of Large-Scale Voter Fraud
At the heart of the protest are allegations of widespread voter fraud, with Rahul Gandhi accusing the ECI of colluding with the BJP to tamper with electoral rolls. Citing Congress’s own probe in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura segment, he claimed over one lakh bogus entries were found. On Sunday, Congress launched a web portal to mobilise public participation in ensuring transparent voter lists, urging citizens to join what Gandhi described as the “battle to defend democracy.”
ECI Denies Allegations, Demands Proof
The ECI dismissed Gandhi’s claims as unfounded and asked him to submit evidence on oath. Meanwhile, other opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, have alleged similar voter roll irregularities in Bihar and Maharashtra. These charges are expected to be a central theme of a two-week opposition yatra in Bihar starting August 17.
Stalemate Over Electoral Integrity
As the opposition pledges to intensify its campaign, the standoff has brought electoral integrity into sharp focus. The confrontation has sparked debate over the neutrality of the ECI and raised broader questions about the state of democracy in India.