New Delhi, Oct 6: Holding Tricolours and banners reading ‘Save democracy’, the INDIA bloc MPs on Tuesday commenced their protest march from Parliament to the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) headquarters in the National Capital, demanding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar resignation.

The Opposition leaders raised slogans against the CEC, BJP and the RSS as they marched towards the ECI headquarters.

The DMK and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) did not participate in the Opposition’s march.

In view of the protest, Delhi Police and other security forces had been placed on alert. Barricades were also set up outside the ECI office.

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, along with several other INDIA bloc leaders, staged a dharna after they were stopped from heading towards the ECI’s office.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Akhilesh Yadav, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee and SP MP Dharmendra Yadav were also seen raising slogans as they proceeded towards the poll body’s office.

Congress MP Pawan Khera, holding a banner reading ‘Save Democracy’, told media, “This is just the beginning. This issue will go a long way.”

Speaking to media, Congress leader Ragini Nayak said, “This is the time to save democracy and protect our democratic process from the assault on the Constitution of India and vote theft.”

Police have instructed security forces to be fully prepared to deal with any situation. Necessary arrangements have been made to control the crowd and maintain law and order.

“The police’s objective is to maintain peace and order during the protest and prevent any untoward incidents,” officials said.

Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been imposed in and around Jantar Mantar. Under this, restrictions may be imposed on certain activities and gatherings in the area.

The administration has appealed to the public to follow the prescribed rules and cooperate with security arrangements.

New Delhi, Oct 6: Several lawmakers of the INDIA bloc marched towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday, against alleged irregularities in poll body decisions, regarding the Special Intensive Revision exercise and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

From Congress to Trinamool Congress to Samajwadi Party to other allies of INDIA bloc, all participated in the mega demonstration against the CEC. Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Virendra Singh said that they joined the protest at the behest of party president Akhilesh Yadav.

“I do not know about the INDI Alliance, but our national president has called upon all MPs to reach Makar Dwar. We are all party workers, we have come here on the instructions of our national president,” Singh said.

All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the CEC during the protest.

Speaking on the INDIA bloc’s protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Banerjee said, “That vote thief Gyanesh should resign…”

Congress MP Imran Masood also demanded resignation of the CEC, alleging that Gyanesh Kumar had undermined the credibility of the Election Commission as an independent institution.

Speaking to media, Masood said, “The CEC should resign. Gyanesh Kumar has broken the trust that the Election Commission had earned as an independent and impartial institution in the country. When we demand Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, the BJP starts raising questions.”

Reacting to the decision of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to skip the INDIA bloc’s protest against the CEC, Masood said that only those standing with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would be visible in the ongoing political fight.

“Those who are walking hand in hand with Rahul Gandhi will be the ones seen in this fight. The rest will either be swept away in the storm or will remain on the other side and be swept away,” Masood said.

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat said that INDIA bloc parties were protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar.

The protest has brought the Opposition’s concerns over the electoral revision exercise and the functioning of the Election Commission into political focus. However, the participation of some Opposition parties highlighted differences over the extent of coordination among INDIA bloc constituents.

Patna, Oct 5: A protest by candidates in Patna turned tense on Monday as aspirants opposed the cancellation of the main examination for the recruitment of 1,799 Bihar Police Sub-Inspectors.

A large number of candidates marched from Gandhi Maidan towards JP Golambar, where police had erected barricades to stop them from proceeding further.

A confrontation subsequently broke out between the protesters and the police, with reports of a lathi-charge.

After being stopped near JP Golambar, the protesters sat on the road and demanded a meeting with the Chief Minister.

Police officials appealed to the candidates to maintain peace and suggested that they submit their demands through a delegation.

They asked the protesters to nominate a five-member delegation for discussions.

However, the candidates remained firm in their demand for a direct meeting with the Chief Minister.

The situation became tense as the protesters and police personnel confronted each other.

According to reports, police used batons to disperse the protesters and bring the situation under control.

Videos showing male and female candidates confronting police personnel have also surfaced.

The complete context and sequence of events in the individual videos could not be independently verified.

A separate video circulating from the protest shows Masaurhi DSP Raghav Dayal at the demonstration.

Claims have emerged that the officer was holding a baton and attempting to push protesters back during the police action.

However, the footage alone does not establish the full circumstances or sequence of events surrounding his actions.

Local reports have confirmed the presence of DSP Raghav Dayal at the protest site, where police used batons during the confrontation.

The candidates were protesting against the cancellation of the main examination for the recruitment of 1,799 Sub-Inspectors and demanding clarity on the recruitment process.

The situation remained tense as the protesters continued to press their demands and sought direct intervention from the Chief Minister.