India's LoP Rahul Gandhi Leads Opposition March to Election Commission, Detained in Delhi Amid ‘Vote Theft’ Row
The Opposition parties of India on Monday staged an unprecedented protest march from Parliament House to the Election Commission (EC) headquarters over what they allege is a systematic attempt to disenfranchise voters in Bihar ahead of the state’s assembly elections later this year.
The protest, triggered by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted in Bihar, also raised broader questions over electoral integrity in India.
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| Image Source: INC India |
They were stopped midway at Transport Bhawan, less than a kilometre from Nirvachan Sadan, and transported in buses to the Parliament Street police station.
Before the march began at Parliament’s Makar Dwar, the Opposition leaders sang the national anthem, wearing white caps marked with a red cross over the words “SIR” and “vote chori” (vote theft).
Protest banners read “SIR+Vote Theft=Murder of Democracy,” “SIR – Loktantra Par Vaar” (attack on democracy), and “SIR par chuppi kyu?” (Why the silence on SIR?).
Rahul: ‘Fight to Save Constitution’
Speaking before his detention, Rahul Gandhi insisted the agitation was “not a political fight” but “a fight to save the Constitution” and uphold the “One Man, One Vote” principle.
“We want a clean, pure voter list. The reality is that they cannot talk -- the truth is before the country,” he said.
वोट चोरी नहीं चलेगी ✊ pic.twitter.com/dFYJa2MkaU
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 11, 2025
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the Modi government of being “afraid” and “cowardly,” while senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge described the march as “a fight to protect the right to vote and save democracy.”
SP’s Akhilesh Yadav alleged the Election Commission had repeatedly failed to act on his party’s complaints of “large-scale irregularities” in Uttar Pradesh elections, claiming that 18,000 SP votes were deliberately deleted in the 2022 assembly polls despite affidavits being submitted to the EC.
He also cited incidents where, according to him, plainclothes policemen were deployed to cast ballots and a police officer in Rampur was photographed pointing a revolver at voters.
TMC MP Faints, Barricade Clashes
During the march, TMC MP Mitali Bagh fainted in the heat of the protest and was assisted by Rahul Gandhi and fellow MPs before being taken to hospital. At the Transport Bhawan blockade, MPs Mahua Moitra, Sushmita Dev, Sanjana Jatav, and Jothimani climbed police barricades to raise slogans against the poll body.
Jaya Bachchan, also part of the protest, said: “We want the stealing of votes to stop.” Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi claimed the Opposition was “forced to visit the EC” to highlight duplication of voters “especially in BJP-ruled regions.”
Weeks of Disruptions in Parliament
The protest followed weeks of disruptions in both Houses of Parliament over the SIR issue, with the Opposition demanding an urgent debate. Since the Monsoon Session began on July 21, legislative business has been minimal except for a discussion on Operation Sindoor, with frequent adjournments over the voter roll revision controversy.
We Won't Let BJP and the Election Commission Steal India's Democracy! 🇮🇳✊ pic.twitter.com/wgX5iEAqEp
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 11, 2025
The EC has denied allegations of “vote theft” and defended the SIR as a routine verification exercise involving door-to-door checks.
Opposition parties, however, allege that the process is being manipulated to disproportionately remove voters opposed to the ruling BJP.
Broader Credibility Questions
The protest drew leaders from across the INDIA bloc, including the DMK, RJD, Left parties, and others, signalling a coordinated push on electoral transparency ahead of key state elections.
With police maintaining that no formal permission was sought for the march, the confrontation underscored growing tensions between the Opposition and government institutions over electoral fairness.
Detained MPs were later released by the police.
This is a developing story.