State Congress leaders accuse Delhi Police of suppressing democratic rights as party intensifies protest over electoral roll concerns
Bhopal, Oct 2026 : The Madhya Pradesh unit of the Congress on Tuesday staged a protest outside the Election Commission’s office in Bhopal against the detention of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during an opposition demonstration in New Delhi.
The protest was led by Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Umang Singhar. Several Congress MLAs, office-bearers and a large number of party workers participated in the demonstration.
Former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh and other senior Congress leaders later joined the sit-in outside the Election Commission office. Protesters raised slogans against the Election Commission and burnt an effigy of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Patwari said the demonstration was aimed at defending democratic rights, protecting the impartiality of constitutional institutions and safeguarding citizens’ right to vote.
“In a democracy, the voice of a public representative cannot be suppressed. Asking questions and demanding answers is a democratic right,” Patwari said in a post on X.
Singhar said the Congress had organised the protest in response to the detention of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra by the Delhi Police during the opposition demonstration in the national capital.
The Bhopal protest followed a demonstration by opposition MPs in New Delhi over allegations raised by the Congress regarding irregularities in electoral rolls. Opposition leaders have been demanding greater transparency from the Election Commission and action on their concerns relating to the electoral roll revision process.
Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders had marched towards the Election Commission office in New Delhi but were stopped by police near Akashvani Bhawan. Following the stoppage, the opposition leaders staged a sit-in at the location.
After several hours, Delhi Police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several other opposition leaders as authorities moved to clear the protest site. The leaders were subsequently released.
The Congress has continued to raise questions over the electoral rolls and has sought greater transparency in the functioning of the Election Commission. The party has also been organising demonstrations in different parts of the country to highlight its concerns.
The issue has become a major point of political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP. While the Congress has alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and demanded action from the Election Commission, the BJP has rejected the allegations and accused the opposition party of making unsubstantiated claims against an independent constitutional institution.
The Madhya Pradesh demonstration reflected the Congress’ decision to take its concerns over the electoral process beyond Parliament and New Delhi. State leaders said the party would continue to raise the issue and seek accountability from constitutional authorities.
With protests being organised in different places, the dispute over electoral rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission has emerged as a prominent political issue between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.
