Election Commission row LIVE: Delhi Police detain around 50 protesters over Jantar Mantar agitation seeking CEC's arrest

Congress held protests across the country as the Opposition stepped up demands over alleged dissent within poll panel; Bihar Congress workers face water cannons

Updated - September 25, 2026 08:09 pm IST

All India Students' Association (AISA) National President Neha Bora reaches out from a police bus as she is detained along with other activists during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) row, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, on September 25, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

The Congress party held protests across the country as the Opposition steps up its demand over Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. At Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, several protesters were detained during an agitation by AISA seeking Mr. Kumar’s arrest. New Delhi DCP Sachin Sharma said that 40-50 protesters were detained as no permission had been sought or granted to hold the protest at the venue.

Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke threatened to launch a “Jantar Mantar 2.0” and nationwide agitation on October ‌2 if the CEC removal demand was not met. He also urged opposition parties to stop participating in elections if they believe the electoral process is being rigged, saying their continued participation only legitimises such polls and creates an “illusion” that they are free and fair.

Also read: Opposition calls for CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s removal after report on Election Commissioners’ dissent

The row follows an Indian Express report stating that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally objected at least 14 times over 10 months, alleging that key decisions were taken in the name of the full Commission without their knowledge, some of them “unauthorised and illegal.”

The Election Commission said “differing views” are part of its decision-making process, as the poll panel carries out a nationwide revision of the electoral database.

Also watch: LoP Rahul Gandhi addresses Delhi press briefing amid ECI dissent row over SIR

Delhi Congress Chief Devender Yadav, Nehra Bora from All India Students’ Association (AISA) were among those detained from Jantar Mantar over an agitation demanding the removal and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

New Delhi DCP Sachin Sharma said 40-50 protesters were detained as no permission had been sought or granted to hold the protest at the venue.

A senior New Delhi police official present at the spot said the protesters were later released. The official denied allegations that police personnel were not wearing name tags, saying all personnel deployed at the spot had been wearing them.

The officer also denied allegations of manhandling, saying only the amount of force required to detain the protesters and prevent them from proceeding to the protest site was used.

Congress leader K.C. Venugopal on Friday (September 25, 2026) claimed that CEC Gyanesh Kumar is “engaged in a criminal conspiracy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah and trying to sabotage the entire democratic principles and procedures of our country”.

“His actions are illegal, his actions are unconstitutional, and he is trying to sabotage the democratic values and principles of our country. We cannot allow it at all,” he added.

The Bihar unit of Congress on Friday (September 25, 2026) protested in Patna as part of nationwide demonstrations called by the party over the functioning of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the State police used water cannons to disperse party workers who attempted to reach the Chief Electoral Officer’s premises.

The Congress workers were holding placards and shouting slogans against Mr. Kumar and the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre.

Bihar Congress stages protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar; police use water cannons to halt march

Bihar Congress protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, police use water cannons as march is dispersed in Patna amid electoral roll concerns.

Trinamool Congress joint secretary Derek O’Brien on Friday (September 25, 2026) said opposition parties must continue to contest elections to protect democratic rights while simultaneously fighting for free and fair polls.

He was responding to Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke’s call to boycott elections that he alleged were being rigged.

“Opposition boycotting elections = BJP wins all seats. Once that happens, they amend the Constitution to legalise all their crimes,” Mr. O’Brien said on X.