Gyanesh Kumar row highlights: INDIA bloc MPs to march to Rashtrapati Bhavan tomorrow, no appointment with President yet

CEC Gyanesh Kumar row LIVE: Delhi Traffic Police has issued a travel advisory for today, warning of possible traffic congestion on Rajghat-Kishan Ghat Road and nearby stretches due to a proposed dharna at Kishan Ghat Road.

Commuters have been advised to:

- Avoid the affected stretch and plan their journey in advance.

- Use alternate routes via JLN Marg-Minto Road-Ajmeri Gate, depending on traffic conditions.

- Follow directions given by Traffic Police personnel.

- Use public transport where possible to help ease congestion.

- Park only in designated parking areas.

According to the advisory, around 500-600 people led by Delhi Congress president Deviender Yadav are expected to gather at Rajghat and proceed towards Kishan Ghat Road.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar row LIVE: Telangana Congress organised a 'Chalo Lok Bhavan' march from the Indira Gandhi statue to Raj Bhavan in Somajiguda, demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar today.

Earlier, CM Revanth Reddy criticised the Election Commission over alleged discrepancies in the SIR and condemned the brief detention of Congress leaders and workers in Delhi, including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar row LIVE: High-voltage political drama unfolded in Patna on Thursday as the united Opposition launched a high-stakes march toward Raj Bhavan, demanding the immediate resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The protest, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, VIP chief Mukesh Sahni, and RJD MP Misha Bharti, witnessed intense confrontations with law enforcement as massive security cordons brought key parts of Patna to a standstill.

Shortly after the confrontation, senior leaders, including Yadav, Sahni, and Bharti, were detained by police and escorted toward Lok Bhavan to clear the demonstration site.

Addressing reporters amid the escalating standoff, an agitated Tejashwi Yadav hit out at the heavy security arrangements, alleging an atmosphere of intimidation. "AK-47s have been deployed here. Such weapons are meant to deal with terrorists, not democratic protests," Yadav declared. Striking a defiant tone, he vowed, "We will not back down until we secure the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. This march will go on."

(Inputs from Anirban Guha Roy)

CEC Gyanesh Kumar row LIVE: The INDIA bloc in Bihar, led by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, held a massive protest march in Patna towards Raj Bhavan.

The demonstration is part of a statewide agitation against chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar row LIVE: The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) will hold protests across Karnataka on Thursday as part of the Congress' nationwide call to observe a "Black Day" for Indian democracy over the brief detention of party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

The protests will take place at the state, district and block/mandal levels. The main demonstration was scheduled to be held at the KPCC office on Queen's Road from 10.30 am.

Similar protests will also be organised at District Congress Committee (DCC) and Block Congress Committee (BCC) offices across the state.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar row LIVE: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) claimed in a post on X on Thursday that several of its volunteers have been “detained” ahead of the group's protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on October 10.

“The government is back to its cheap tactics! CJP volunteers across the country are being detained to stop them from attending the 10 October protest. But this will only add to the anger and bring even more people out in solidarity,” it said on X.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar row LIVE: Delhi Police has lodged an FIR alleging assault and obstruction of police personnel on duty during the INDIA bloc's protest march against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

The FIR names Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, among others.

(Inputs from Jignasa Sinha)

CEC Gyanesh Kumar row LIVE: For the second day in a row, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will host a lunch for INDIA bloc leaders at a Delhi restaurant today.

The lunch comes a day after Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi led INDIA bloc leaders through another day of protests.

The leaders first met for a vegetarian lunch at Sagar Ratna on Janpath before travelling in a convoy of buses and holding a surprise dharna near Jantar Mantar.

Opposition protest LIVE: Union minister Bhagirath Choudhary on Thursday criticised the Congress-led Opposition for protesting in Delhi against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise. He claimed the demonstrations were being held "out of frustration".

"The opposition is left with no issue at all. They are frustrated and disheartened. This is why they resort to protest and are making baseless statements. Their demonstrations are out of frustration," Choudhary told reporters in Ranchi.

INDIA bloc protest in Delhi LIVE: Delhi Police have filed a first information report (FIR) following a complaint alleging that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with other MPs, entered the Akashvani Bhavan premises without permission during Tuesday's Opposition protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

The complaint claimed that the leaders entered the office complex without authorisation after police halted the Opposition march towards the Election Commission of India (ECI), an officer familiar with the matter said.

“FIR has been registered under relevant sections. A further probe is underway” a senior police officer told HT earlier.

INDIA bloc protest in Delhi LIVE: Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan urged CEC Gyanesh Kumar to meet Opposition MPs at Samvidhan Bhavan, the old Parliament building. He said a direct dialogue was needed to address concerns over the Election Commission and reinforce its independence and impartiality.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Haasan described the Election Commission as the "guardian of every Indian's right to vote". He said the poll panel should engage with elected representatives at a time when Opposition parties have questioned its credibility.

Gyanesh Kumar news LIVE: Bihar leader of opposition and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav climbed over a barricade while participating in the INDIA bloc's protest march towards Lok Bhavan in Patna.

Gyanesh Kumar news LIVE: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav joined the Opposition's protest march to Raj Bhavan in Patna, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

He told reporters, "The government is protecting Gyanesh Kumar. There is barricading everywhere, we are not being allowed to move. However, people will definitely punish 'vote chors' no matter how much the administration tries to save them. Those who are conspiring to finish the democracy will be punished."

Gyanesh Kumar news LIVE: Security measures have been stepped up around Sansad Marg, Ashoka Road, Janpath Road and other parts of central Delhi as Opposition INDIA bloc parties prepare to protest for a third consecutive day on Thursday against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Around 5,000 Delhi Police personnel have been deployed and several roads have been barricaded. The government has also cleared the deployment of additional central paramilitary forces in the Capital.

The Le Meridien roundabout, where protesters had gathered on Wednesday, has also been brought under the security plan. Police said they reviewed footage from 150 body cameras worn by personnel during the protest and found instances of their staff being targeted. Full story here.

Gyanesh Kumar news LIVE: The protests against Kumar come amid criticism of the Election Commission over the SIR of electoral rolls. The controversy intensified after reports said that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months to decisions and orders, some of which they said were issued without their knowledge.

The Election Commission has, however, said that the three-member poll panel took all decisions, including those concerning the SIR, unanimously.

Gyanesh Kumar news LIVE: Several parties attended a lunch hosted by Congress chief and LoP in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, but the Samajwadi Party, which has 37 MPs in the Lok Sabha, stayed away, citing a lack of communication from the Congress.

However, the SP is expected to take part in the INDIA bloc's protest today, HT has learnt.

The protests are part of a series of INDIA bloc demonstrations against Kumar. Most MPs and party supporters were detained and taken away.

Gyanesh Kumar news LIVE: Amid ongoing protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Union government has strengthened his existing Z+ security cover. More personnel have now been deployed outside his residence, at the Election Commission office and as part of his personal security, HT has learnt.

A senior police officer said, “The protesters managed to trace his house. There was another protest outside his family’s house in Agra. We had to assess all the threats and increase the security cover. We had also placed a few pickets near his house.”

Read full story here.

Gyanesh Kumar news LIVE: Actor Prakash Raj said on Wednesday that a "people' tribunal" would be held in Bengaluru on October 8, with people from across Karnataka who he described as "victims of SIR" expected to attend. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee will also take part in the stir.

Raj, who has criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, announced the programme on social media.

"Requesting all the citizens to participate in this fight to save our democracy. Come join us tomorrow, 8th October at Freedom Park... Bengaluru," he said.

In a video, Raj said Rathee, a social media influencer, would also attend the event. Rathee later posted a video on his X account confirming that he would participate in the programme.

Gyanesh Kumar news LIVE: INDIA bloc MPs are set to hold another protest today after several lawmakers, travelling in three buses, tried to organise a large-scale demonstration against chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday.

The Delhi Police had stopped them near Janpath, bringing traffic and activity across much of New Delhi to a standstill.