Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Pinarayi Vijayan were among opposition leaders detained in Delhi during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Demonstrators demanded his resignation over alleged electoral roll irregularities linked to the Special Intensive Revision process.
Several opposition leaders, including former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, were detained by police on Saturday while attempting to participate in a protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in the national capital.
The protest was called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), with demonstrators demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The protesters raised concerns over the integrity of the electoral process and alleged attempts to undermine democratic rights.
Mamata Banerjee Detained Along With Trinamool Congress MPs
Mamata Banerjee was detained along with five MPs of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), identified in the supplied account as the Mamata faction, from South Avenue in central Delhi. The former West Bengal chief minister had staged a sit-in at a bus stand after police personnel prevented her from proceeding towards the protest venue.
Banerjee, who appeared with a band-aid over her mouth, was taken away in a police bus along with party MPs, including Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen.
Speaking from inside the police vehicle, Banerjee criticised the government’s handling of the demonstration. “The government is misbehaving with us,” she said in a video statement.
She also asserted that the opposition INDIA bloc would continue its campaign to protect democratic rights and strengthen the voice of the people.
The detention of Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress MPs brought renewed attention to the opposition’s objections regarding the functioning of the Election Commission and the controversy surrounding the revision of electoral rolls.
Arvind Kejriwal Alleges Authoritarianism
Arvind Kejriwal was also detained when he attempted to leave his residence to join the demonstration. According to the account, Delhi Police personnel had surrounded his residence since the morning, preventing him from proceeding towards the protest.
Before being detained, Kejriwal told reporters that police personnel and paramilitary forces had been deployed extensively across the capital. He alleged that people were being prevented from leaving their homes and that individuals walking on the streets were being picked up by the police.
Describing the situation as an atmosphere of authoritarianism, the former Delhi chief minister accused the authorities of attempting to suppress allegations of “vote chori”, a phrase used by opposition figures to describe alleged electoral malpractice.
Kejriwal maintained that the issue could not be ignored and called on citizens to participate in efforts to defend democracy.
He also said that several young activists and CJP leaders had been detained. Among those he named were Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurabh Das, along with Dhruv Rathee, Ratna Singh and others.
Kejriwal appealed to people to travel to Delhi and join the campaign, warning that the country’s democratic institutions could be at risk if allegations of electoral irregularities were not addressed.
The allegations made by the opposition leaders were not independently established in the supplied account.
Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI-M Leaders Also Detained
Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was among the other prominent opposition figures detained during the protest. Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas was also taken into custody.
Both were reportedly taken to a detention centre at Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi. CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby was also detained as the police action against demonstrators continued.
The participation of leaders from different opposition parties highlighted the wider political significance of the demonstration, which centred on demands for accountability from the Election Commission over the electoral roll revision process.
CJP Leaders Detained at Delhi Airport
Earlier in the day, CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained by police at Indira Gandhi International Airport while they were on their way to Jantar Mantar to participate in the protest.
The leaders were reportedly travelling to the demonstration to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities associated with the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The proposed demonstration was intended to bring together political leaders, activists and citizens opposed to the alleged irregularities. However, the detentions of prominent opposition figures and activists disrupted their efforts to reach the protest venue.
Electoral Roll Revision Becomes Centre of Political Dispute
The controversy over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has become a point of confrontation between opposition parties and the authorities. Opposition leaders have raised questions about the process and called for accountability, while their demands have placed the Election Commission at the centre of the political debate.
The protest in Delhi reflected the opposition’s attempt to draw public attention to these concerns. The detentions of Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, Pinarayi Vijayan and several other political figures further intensified the confrontation.
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The demonstration also brought together leaders from the Trinamool Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party and the CPI(M), alongside CJP representatives and activists.
The opposition leaders maintained that their campaign would continue, insisting that questions surrounding electoral integrity and democratic participation required public scrutiny.
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The supplied account did not include a response from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar or the Election Commission regarding the allegations raised by the protesters.
As the political dispute continues, the demands for accountability over the electoral roll revision process remain central to the opposition’s campaign against the Chief Election Commissioner.
