Opposition leaders ‘pray’ at Rajghat for government to ‘get wisdom’ to remove CEC; say protest will continue

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Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA bloc leaders stage a peaceful protest at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat, in New Delhi, on October 8, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

For the third day in a row, leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) on Thursday (October 8, 2026) protested in Delhi against alleged “vote c hori [theft]” and demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, staging a symbolic s atyagraha at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Rajghat.

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Following two days of face-offs with the Delhi Police, the Opposition leaders were allowed to hold a peaceful protest at Rajghat without being prevented from reaching there.

The leaders offered floral tributes and “prayed at the memorial”, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge saying “they prayed for the BJP government gets the wisdom to stop vote chori , remove the CEC and protect the citizen’s right to vote”.

The INDIA bloc will continue its protest on Friday (October 9) and is likely to march towards Rashtrapati Bhavan after assembling at Parliament House in the morning. Senior leaders, including Mamata All India Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, may join the march, even though President Droupadi Murmu has not yet given an appointment.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Mr. Kumar of “hijacking” the country by allegedly indulging in vote theft .

In a replay of Wednesday’s (October 7) outreach, Mr. Kharge hosted a lunch for Opposition MPs and leaders at Moets restaurant in the Outer Circle of Connaught Place. In a show of Opposition unity, leaders of the Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) were present at Thursday’s (October 8) lunch.

Interacting with reporters after the lunch, Mr Gandhi targeted Mr. Modi, Mr. Shah, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat and Mr. Kumar, accusing them of “destroying” the Constitution.

The Opposition leader claimed that around 300 MPs wanted to hold a peaceful d harna on the first day, but were stopped near the Election Commission’s office, while on the second day, they were prevented from going to Jantar Mantar and were “beaten up”. “They will be brought to justice. This is our guarantee, and you will see it happen,” he said.

From Connaught Place, the Opposition leaders travelled to Rajghat in air-conditioned buses.

Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal said the INDIA bloc had sent a message by holding the protest at Rajghat. “Mahatma Gandhi led the freedom fight for India. The entire democracy has been completely finished by Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah through Gyanesh Kumar. We have come here to pray to the Mahatma. This is one of the most powerful agitations,” Mr.