Chaos in Delhi: Opposition Leaders Detained Amid Massive Protest Over ‘Vote Theft’ Allegations

The heart of India’s capital turned into a battleground on Monday as opposition MPs took to the streets in a powerful protest against alleged ‘vote theft’ by the ruling BJP and the Election Commission. In dramatic scenes that played out near Parliament, thousands of leaders and workers from 25 political parties marched from Parliament to the Election Commission office, shouting slogans and demanding justice.

The day’s biggest shock came when Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were detained by Delhi Police. They were joined by Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), his wife and MP Dimple Yadav, TMC MPs, and several others—all packed into police buses amidst heavy security and nationwide attention. The exact location where they would be taken remained unclear at the time.

The march, roughly 1.5 kilometers long, began from Parliament and headed for the Election Commission. What started as a peaceful protest soon became intense, with opposition leaders accusing the BJP and EC of “stealing votes,” especially in Bihar. The opposition had previously written to the Election Commission, demanding a meeting over the alleged irregularities. EC permitted only 30 leaders to enter, citing space constraints, but thousands landed up, making the protest impossible to contain.

The police responded by erecting at least seven barricades along the route. The tension escalated when Akhilesh Yadav was seen jumping over the barricades, followed by several other prominent leaders. They reached Patel Chowk, sat down on the road, and began a sit-in protest.

As chaos mounted, Delhi Police began rounding up leaders and workers, filling up buses with those detained—among them were Priyanka Gandhi and Dimple Yadav. Meanwhile, supporters of Congress, Samajwadi Party, TMC, and other parties continued to chant slogans, accusing the Election Commission and the BJP of “stealing democracy.”

The number of protestors far exceeded police expectations, making it difficult even for buses carrying detainees to move through the crowd—effectively turning the police vehicles into part of the march itself.

Today’s high-stakes protest signals a new escalation, taking the fight from Parliament’s halls to the city’s streets. The opposition resolved not to back down, vowing to keep up their agitation until their voices are heard and justice is served. The battle over the alleged vote controversy has only intensified, and as these dramatic visuals from Delhi show, it may have just begun.

Stay tuned for more live coverage from the streets of Delhi.