The protest that wouldn’t end: Inside Rahul Gandhi’s daylong siege of Akashvani Bhawan
Rahul Gandhi led a protest march of INDIA bloc parliamentarians to the Election Commission of India, demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Despite police efforts to disperse the group, Gandhi persisted in his demonstration at Akashvani Bhawan.
Why it matters
This event highlights ongoing political tensions between the Indian opposition and the Election Commission, reflecting broader concerns about democratic institutions in India.
It looked as though the protests were winding down around noon on Tuesday (October 6, 2026), as buses packed with protesting parliamentarians trundled away from Akashvani Bhawan in the national capital after nearly two hours of sloganeering.
Only Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had another idea.
“This can’t end here,” Mr. Gandhi told his colleagues. “Where is Priyanka [Gandhi]? Where is Akhilesh [Yadav]?” he asked. Both leaders had been packed into buses by the police.
Many Congress parliamentarians, along with Priyanka Gandhi, got down from the buses they had been packed into. But the bus carrying Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, which also had Trinamool Congress’ Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M)’s John Brittas and others, had already left the site.
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