500 detained in Delhi protests demanding CEC's exit; Thackerays lead Mumbai march
Protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar entered their third day on Sunday, October 4, 2026, with major demonstrations in New Delhi and Mumbai. In Delhi, confrontations erupted between protesters attempting to reach Jantar Mantar and Delhi Police, who had heavily barricaded the area. Police stopped the march on Ashoka Road and detained nearly 500 people, with an official recording 110 detentions. Those detained were transported in 10-15 buses from central Delhi, including a woman journalist who alleged sexual harassment and manhandling by a policeman while covering Saturday's protest. Around 12-15 Delhi Police personnel sustained injuries during the confrontation.
The protests, which began on October 2 on Gandhi Jayanti, also targeted the suspension of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Participants included Opposition party leaders, civil society activists, and members of youth and student organisations.
In Mumbai, the 'Virat Garjana Morcha' march drew nearly 6,000 participants led by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. The march proceeded from Metro Cinema to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters, with participants also joining Congress and NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) leaders. Uddhav Thackeray criticized the CEC as a "weapon" of the BJP, while Raj Thackeray called for replacing Electronic Voting Machines with ballot papers.
