Rahul, Priyanka Detained in March to ECI Over ‘Vote Fraud’

Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were detained in New Delhi on Monday while marching to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to protest alleged electoral malpractice.

The march, led by Rahul Gandhi from the Makar Dwar of Parliament, was joined by MPs from the INDIA bloc. They accused the government of “voter theft” and raised slogans of “vote chor” while heading towards the ECI headquarters.

The protest targeted the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, which requires voters to prove citizenship through documents that many do not possess. Opposition parties warn this could lead to mass disenfranchisement nationwide.

Police halted the march, citing a lack of permission for such a large gathering. Officials said only 30 MPs were authorised to meet the ECI, but the group far exceeded that number.

Authorities said the detained leaders were taken to a nearby police station. Once the names of 30 MPs are submitted, they will be escorted to the ECI for the scheduled interaction, as agreed earlier in the day.

The ECI had approved the meeting on the Congress Party’s request, limiting attendance to 30 due to space constraints. The opposition insists the revision process is being used to manipulate voter lists ahead of the Bihar state elections.