BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Thursday (October 8, 2026) attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing him of having an “anarchist mindset” and trying to spread “poison” in society.

His remarks came after the Congress leader on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) led the INDIA bloc leaders’ street protests before being detained again along with many MPs by police.

“I can only say that they are of ‘arajaktawadi’ (anarchist) mindset and trying to spread poison in society. If he had such objections, elections in Kerala were also conducted by the same Election Commission. The election in Tamil Nadu, where they have come to power, was also conducted by the same Election Commission,” Mr. Nabin said “If Rahul Gandhi has the courage, he should first resign. The people are watching the manner in which he is playing this game,” he said.

Mr. Nabin also accused the Leader of Opposition of protecting infiltrators.

“Those who come to India from different places and deprive the people of their rights are being opposed. I believe that the people of India have the right over the country’s resources, wealth and land. We will not allow infiltrators to claim these rights,” he said.

Analysis | The Rahul Gandhi show and the Congress’s alliance dilemma

The BJP will always oppose attempts to settle people in India with a “foreign mindset”, Mr. Nabin added.

The Congress has been demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation after The Indian Express reported that election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected on record at least 14 times over the past 10 months to decisions and orders mostly related to the Special Intensive Revision process.

Under fire over red flags raised by two of its commissioners, the ECI has asserted that differing views and observations are a part of deliberations in any institution and all its orders carry full legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.

Earlier, Mr. Nabin offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple here and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the temple corridor.

“I congratulate Narendra Modi ji and respected Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ji for the corridor. You have given a very grand and distinct form to a centre of faith for crores of Sanatanis,” he said.

Asked about the BJP’s election preparations, Mr. Nabin said the party’s workers function round-the-clock.

“A BJP worker works 24×7. For us, every day is a working day and every day is an election day. We are not among those who come only during the election season. Our programmes, our work and our communication with the people continue throughout the year,” he said.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday (October 14, 2026) asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah not to stand in the way of protesting students, describing them as the voice of India.

Mr. Gandhi made the remarks after he met students, including activists of the party’s students’ wing, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), who were injured during recent protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The meeting happened at the 10, Janpath residence of Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

‘No Hindu, no Muslim’

The Opposition leader asked the students to introduce themselves, narrate their ordeal after Delhi Police personnel picked them up from the protesting sites, and then, urged the students to form a human chain by holding each others hands.

“Amit Shah ji, look at this properly. Here there is no Hindu, no Muslim, no caste, no gender. There is one voice, one protest — it is the voice of Hindustan,” he said.

“And you are standing in front of this voice and the Prime Minister ji is standing in front of this voice. I give you a suggestion — do not stand in front of this voice. No one can stand in front of this voice,” Mr. Gandhi added.

Inhuman treatment: students

During the interaction, some students recounted what they described as inhuman treatment in police custody, alleging that they were beaten, abused and hit in their private parts.

Mr. Gandhi described the students as the party’s shers and shernis (lions and lionesses) and assured them that the Congress would stand by them. He said those responsible for alleged police excesses would be held accountable, from the Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah to the police constables involved in the incidents.

‘Preserve evidence’

The Congress leader also urged the students to preserve video and photographic evidence of how they are being treated in custody.

“Peaceful protest is your right. We will not allow anyone to snatch it away,” Mr. Gandhi said in a post on X, adding that the day would come when those seeking to silence democracy would face the law.

The interaction also addressed a concern within the party that while Mr. Gandhi has showcased student protesters such as Neha Bora, several NSUI and Youth Congress activists have not received similar visibility.

Amid intensifying anti-CEC protests and police crackdown on protesters, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi has announced a march to the Supreme Court on Monday (October 12, 2026). The Congress leader has called on the “youth, all opposition parties, civil society groups, all those who believe in democracy and stand by the Constitution of India” to join the march. The Opposition alliance seeks to submit a memorandum to the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, over alleged ‘vote chori’ (vote theft), but the CJI has declined to meet the Congress leader.

Also read: Anti-CEC row LIVE: Opposition leaders set to march to SC; six metro stations remain closed

Who is marching to SC

The national capital, which is witnessing a string of street protests against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and Special Intensive Revision (SIR), is bracing for another march on October 12 by the opposition alliance INDIA bloc.

Mr. Gandhi said that opposition parties, civil society groups and the youth would march to the Supreme Court to submit a memorandum to the CJI on behalf of the country. The Congress has termed the October 12 protest as “Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy”, for which the leaders are scheduled to converge at the Connaught Place-Barakhamba Road junction at 1.30 pm.

In a post on X, Mr. Gandhi said the march to the Supreme Court would be taken out by Indians united beyond parties, gender, caste, community and State. He appealed to every single person who believes in democracy to come with us. “Doesn’t matter what your affiliation is, as long as you are affiliated to the Constitution of India and you want to protect it,” he said.

Referring to October 10 protests, called by several youth organisations, including the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), Mr Gandhi said the nation’s youth had come out in Delhi to protest peacefully but were “beaten”, both by “BJP goons and the police”.

Mr. Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge have sought a meeting with CJI between 4 and 5 pm on Monday to hand over a memorandum demanding an end to “vote chori”, CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, halting of SIR of electoral rolls, and switching back to the paper ballot format.

October 12 will be the third day of the anti-CEC protests, which began on October 10. CJP and opposition leaders were among 7,000 protesters detained at multiple locations on October 10 as authorities thwarted their attempt to reach Jantar Mantar for a peaceful protest against CEC Kumar even as the national capital came under an unprecedented security clampdown.

Why the CJI declined to meet Congress leader

However, CJI Surya Kant declined to meet Mr. Gandhi on “vote chori” allegations, saying similar matters are sub judice on the judicial side in the Supreme Court.

The CJI’s office confirmed to The Hindu that the request for a meeting was “declined with reasons”.

As per The Hindu report, sources said the meeting was declined as the issues likely to be raised were already sub judice in the Supreme Court. Besides, the court cannot intervene in matters of governance and functioning of the state on its administrative side.

6 Delhi metro stations shut

Ahead of the Opposition’s Supreme Court march, entry and exit at six metro stations will remain closed from 6 am to 4 pm on October 12, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said

The affected six metro stations are – Patel Chowk, Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat and Barakhamba Road, as per the DMRC post on X.

Traffic curbs have also been enforced in the national capital ahead of the protest. As per the Traffic Police advisory, the diversions have come into effect from 6 a.m. and are likely to continue as the Opposition holds its march.

CJP and opposition leaders were among 7,000 protesters detained at multiple locations on October 10 as authorities thwarted their attempt to reach Jantar Mantar for a planned demonstration against CEC Kumar with an unprecedented security clampdown in Delhi.

(With PTI inputs)

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Sunday declined a request by the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, for a meeting on Monday (October 12, 2026).

The CJI’s office confirmed to The Hindu that the request for a meeting was “declined with reasons”. The office informed mediapersons that the response to Mr. Gandhi has been sent to his official mail.

Also Read: Anti-CEC protests continue; journalists detained despite SC order

Sources said the meeting was declined as the issues likely to be raised were already sub judice in the Supreme Court. Besides, the court cannot intervene in matters of governance and functioning of the state on its administrative side.

According to Congress sources, he also cited that meeting political parties would violate the separation of power.

Anti-CEC protest LIVE: October 11, 2026

While the Opposition leaders are expected to lead a march to the Supreme Court, sources said the top judge’s response was that they could raise questions on fundamental rights with the court on its judicial side.

The court has already listed petitions connected to the anti-Chief Election Commissioner and the October 10 clampdown for October 12.

Sources clarified that the CJI had not expressed any view on the proposed march to the Supreme Court on Sunday (October 11, 2026).

Delhi Police have registered an FIR against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several others over alleged forcible entry into the Akashvani Bhavan premises during an INDIA bloc protest on Tuesday (October 6, 2026).

The case comes a day after Delhi Police detained around 260 people, including 10 MPs, following the INDIA bloc’s march from Parliament towards the Election Commission of India office. Police said the protesters breached barricades and continued despite repeated directions to disperse.

“At least 10 MPs and others who could be identified have been named in the complaint. A case has been booked under charges of criminal trespass, and further investigation is underway,” a New Delhi police official told The Hindu. While several protesters were detained during the march, Mr. Gandhi, Ms. Gandhi Vadra and other Opposition leaders reached the Akashvani Bhavan premises, where they staged a sit-in for several hours after being stopped from proceeding towards the Election Commission. Police later removed and detained the leaders.

The FIR was registered following a complaint by Akashvani staffers, who alleged that Mr. Gandhi, Ms. Gandhi Vadra and others accompanying them entered the premises despite resistance.

The Opposition MPs had staged the protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The INDIA bloc had sought to march to the Election Commission office and meet the poll panel chief.

According to the police, no permission had been sought from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi district, for Tuesday’s (October 6, 2026) march and, consequently, no permission was granted. Police also said restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were in force in the New Delhi area.

Congress MP Imran Masood rejected the allegation that Mr. Gandhi had forcibly entered the premises, saying the Leader of the Opposition was accompanied by other MPs.

“Rahul Gandhi is the LoP and was accompanied by MPs. He did not enter anywhere forcibly,” Mr. Masood said.

He said the institutions belonged to the country and not to any political party, and alleged that the Opposition was being denied an opportunity to meet the authorities.

“No one is ready to meet. Now we will go and sit in front of their houses,” he said.

Mr. Masood also said the registration of an FIR would not deter the Opposition from continuing its protests.

“They should not be mistaken that we will back off fearing an FIR,” he said.

The development comes amid a series of protests in Delhi demanding action against the CEC and raising allegations concerning the electoral process.

BJP cited the ECI statement to assert that the poll panel did not receive any request from either the Congress party or any other constituent of the INDIA bloc for a meeting

Describing the Congress-led protests against the special intensive revision (SIR) as a “political drama” staged by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) accused him and the Congress of “lying” to mislead the people. The Election Commission of India’s (ECI) formal statement on the issue exposed their claims, it said.

At a late-evening press conference, BJP MP and spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi cited the ECI statement to assert that the poll panel did not receive any request from either the Congress party or any other constituent of the INDIA bloc for a meeting.

According to the ECI, it received information from the Delhi Police around 4 p.m. that a delegation of MPs led by Mr. Gandhi wanted to meet the Commission and submit a memorandum. A police officer then conveyed that the meeting had been sought with a group of 240 MPs at Parliament House Annexe. As such meetings are held only on ECI premises, the poll panel offered to send its senior-most officer on duty to receive the memorandum. However, the proposal was declined.

Mr. Trivedi alleged that the sequence of events demonstrated that the Congress leaders had no genuine intention to meet the Commission, but only to create a “political spectacle”.

Questioning the claim about the number of MPs at the protest, Mr. Trivedi said the Congress had 99 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 30 in the Rajya Sabha, and the Samajwadi Party had 37 MPs, who, he said, were not at the protest site in the evening. He said the Trinamool MPs were also absent, while the DMK and the Aam Aadmi Party stayed away.

“It is very clear that the entire exercise was carried out to turn democracy into a monarchy, while wearing the mask of democracy, and to establish that very monarchy,” said Mr. Trivedi.

The BJP leader said the sit-in by Mr. Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and their party colleagues at Akashvani Bhawan reflected the “same mindset of the Congress that does not accept democracy”.

“When they were in power, it was from this very Akashvani that Indira ji announced the Emergency. Today, they are in the opposition. Still, through their activities on the same Akashvani premises, they have shown that they do not care about democracy and believe that victory and defeat should be decided as per their wishes,” he said.

Mr. Trivedi questioned at whose behest the Congress “continued to level allegations despite being repeatedly proven wrong”. “Congress does not go to court on any matter because all its allegations are baseless,” he said.

Leader of the Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly, Babulal Marandi, on Monday (September 28, 2026) attacked Rahul Gandhi over the issue of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar following the Indian Express ‘expose’.

Mr. Marandi accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of creating an atmosphere of anarchy in the country and unfairly maligning the Narendra Modi government.

Speaking at a press conference in Jharkhand’s Giridih, Mr. Marandi said that the allegation levelled by Mr. Gandhi is not an isolated incident and the Congress and Opposition parties have made such malicious attempts several times in the past also.

“Since losing power in 2014, the Congress has consistently levelled various allegations, with only the specific issues changing over time. They have raised questions about the central government and the electoral process on different grounds, yet the public has never placed its trust in their baseless and fact-free assertions,” Mr. Marandi said.

He further said that Congress party had previously stoked controversies by labelling EVMs as “black boxes,” chanting “Chowkidar Chor Hai” (the watchman is a thief), and raising issues like the Rafale deal and phone tapping; now, they are alleging “vote theft.”

“This is merely an attempt to mislead the public. The people have awakened and have understood Rahul Gandhi very well. In fact, the nation never takes the words of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress seriously,”Mr. Marandi said.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader added that the Congress leadership should be concerned about the conduct and activities of Mr. Gandhi whether inside or outside Parliament, or within or outside the country.

“Mr. Gandhi should seek medical treatment at hospitals available globally; otherwise, by the time 2029 arrives, he would sink the entire INDI Alliance, including the Congress itself,” Mr. Marandi said.

Mr. Marandi noted that the Opposition had created a massive uproar by seizing upon a recent newspaper report, acting as if they had stumbled upon a major scoop.

He pointed out that the official joint statement issued by the CEC and the two Election Commissioners substantiates that “all decisions were taken unanimously”.

“After the Election Commission’s statement, Rahul Gandhi, the Congress, and the entire INDI Alliance were left utterly humiliated. Mr. Gandhi never stands in support of India’s strength or its development. There are perhaps no other Opposition parties or leaders in the world who constantly tarnish their own country’s image,” Mr. Marandi said.

He further alleged that Congress’s statements often appear to align with the interests of China and other nations.

Senior leader and former Jharkhand Congress President Rajesh Thakur hit back at Mr. Marandi over his statement, calling him a double-standard person.

“The existence of Babulal Marandi in Jharkhand politics has come to an end, due to which he is frustrated. When he was in alliance with the Congress party, he used to kneel in front of Rahul Gandhi ji and now speaks such language. He has always remained a double-standard leader. Just to keep his bosses happy and remain alive in politics, he gives such statements,” Mr. Thakur told The Hindu.

The Congress and the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), formed by the former Chief Minister, Mr. Marandi, had contested the 2009 State Assembly elections in alliance. However, in February 2020, his JVM (P) merged with the BJP.