Rahul Gandhi Detained, Akhilesh Yadav Jumps Barricade as INDIA Bloc’s ‘Vote Chori’ Protest Rocks Delhi

High drama unfolded on the streets of New Delhi on Monday as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was detained and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was seen jumping over police barricades during a massive protest march by the INDIA bloc against alleged electoral malpractices. Several opposition MPs were also detained as their march from Parliament to the Election Commission headquarters was met with a heavy police presence, turning the demonstration into a chaotic confrontation.

The protest, organized against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and what the opposition terms widespread “vote chori” (vote theft), saw hundreds of MPs attempting to reach Nirvachan Sadan to submit a memorandum.

Visuals from the scene showed a defiant Akhilesh Yadav leaping over a barricade, while a detained Rahul Gandhi told reporters the demonstration was a non-political fight to protect democracy. “This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters’ list,” Gandhi declared as he was taken into custody.

The march proceeded despite Delhi Police stating that no prior permission had been sought. The opposition had informed the Election Commission of its plan to collectively meet the full commission to raise concerns over the voter list revision, which they allege is a ploy to disenfranchise genuine voters.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had written to the poll body, making it clear that all opposition MPs intended to participate, not just a small delegation. The Election Commission later granted the opposition leaders an appointment for 12 pm.

The protest is the culmination of weeks of escalating tensions between the opposition and the government over the integrity of the electoral process. Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh reiterated allegations that Booth Level Officers in Bihar were filling out “fake forms” and that the revision process was being rushed. The opposition’s core demand, championed by Rahul Gandhi, is for the Election Commission to release voter rolls in a digital format to allow for independent audits and ensure transparency.