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

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 chori [theft]” and demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, staging a symbolic satyagraha 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”.