Opposition’s March to EC Blocked, Leaders Detained; Thackeray Accuses Govt of Suppression

Protest March Meets Police Barricade

Opposition MPs marched from Parliament’s Makar Dwar toward the Election Commission of India (ECI) office. However, police erected barricades at Transport Bhavan, forcing the march to stop there. In the ensuing standoff, police detained nearly 300 INDIA bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sanjay Raut, and several others.

Allegations Over SIR Fuel Protest

Leaders based their protest on opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar. According to them, the SIR process stirred fears of voter disenfranchisement. Protestors further alleged that the roll update aimed to exclude marginalized communities, creating deep mistrust toward the electoral process.

Dramatic Scenes at the Barricades

As tensions rose, several MPs attempted to scale the barricades. In the chaos, TMC’s Mahua Moitra and Mitali Bag fainted and required medical attention. Meanwhile, other MPs sat on the road while chanting slogans, intensifying the scene. Police then detained them and transported the group to Parliament Street police station, eventually releasing them after several hours.

Thackeray Brands Incident “Blot on Democracy”

Uddhav Thackeray strongly condemned the detentions. Describing the government’s actions as a “tamasha,” he accused authorities of staging political drama instead of respecting democratic rights. He also claimed that opposition MPs faced false detention despite assurances they would be allowed to reach the ECI. Moreover, he warned that alleged “vote chori” from the previous Lok Sabha elections could repeat in the upcoming Bihar polls.

Opposition Defines Stakes in Strong Terms

Rahul Gandhi declared that the protest sought to save the Constitution and uphold the principle of “one person, one vote.” In addition, leaders demanded clean and transparent voter lists to ensure fairness. They characterized their action as a determined fight to protect democracy and the rights of citizens across India.

Political Tensions Escalate Ahead of Bihar Polls

Police described the protest as unauthorized and restricted entry to only 30 MPs at the ECI premises. Opposition leaders, however, called this limit unjust and a clear attempt to curb dissent. As a result, political tensions surged, with the opposition framing the government’s approach as a serious threat to democratic values.