INDIA Bloc MPs Detained During ‘Vote Theft’ March to Election Commission; Mahua Moitra and Mitali Bagh Collapse Amid Protest

New Delhi, Aug 2025 – A massive protest march by INDIA Bloc MPs from Parliament to the Election Commission (EC) headquarters over alleged “vote theft” ended in high drama on Monday, with several top opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Akhilesh Yadav, being detained by the Delhi Police.

The protest, held during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, saw opposition MPs demanding action on alleged manipulation of voter rolls. Carrying “Vote Bachao” banners and singing the national anthem, around 300 MPs began their march from Makar Dwar in Parliament House. However, Delhi Police, citing the absence of prior permission, stopped the procession with multiple barricades.

As the standoff escalated, opposition MPs sat on the road, chanting slogans. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav even jumped over barricades amid loud cheers from fellow MPs. He was quickly assisted by other leaders before being detained.

Leaders Collapse Amid Protests
The protest took a tense turn when Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra fainted inside a police bus after being detained. Rahul Gandhi was seen offering her water. In a separate incident, Mitali Bagh, MP from Arambagh, West Bengal, collapsed during the march. Fellow leaders sprinkled water on her before Rahul Gandhi escorted her away for medical attention.

Parliament Disruption Precedes March
Earlier in the day, Parliament’s Lok Sabha session was disrupted as opposition MPs stormed the Well of the House during Question Hour, chanting “We want justice.” Speaker Om Birla adjourned proceedings until 2 pm. Soon after, the MPs proceeded with their march to the EC headquarters.

Tharoor Demands Credible Answers
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor stressed the importance of transparency in the electoral process, stating:
“For me, this issue is simple. Rahul Gandhi has raised serious questions that deserve credible answers. The Election Commission must ensure that no doubts remain about the credibility of our elections. Democracy is too precious to be endangered by suspicions of duplicate voting, multiple addresses, or fake votes.”

EC Limits Delegation to 30 Members
The EC Secretariat wrote to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Monday, granting an appointment for 12:00 noon but requesting that the delegation be limited to a maximum of 30 members due to space constraints. While Congress had sought time to submit a memorandum, the final list of opposition leaders allowed to meet the EC had not been disclosed at the time of reporting.

Background to the Protest
The opposition accuses the government of using the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Bihar and other regions to manipulate voter rolls ahead of elections. They also cite past allegations of large-scale voter list tampering, such as during the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls in Bengaluru’s Mahadevapura constituency.

Heavy Security Deployment
Delhi Police had implemented several layers of security along the route to the EC office, with additional vehicles and quick reaction teams deployed to manage crowds, ensure smooth traffic, and prevent any untoward incidents.

Parliamentary Business Continues Despite Protests
Amid the political confrontation, legislative business continued in Parliament. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to introduce the Revised Income Tax Bill 2025, following its withdrawal on August 8 for changes recommended by a 31-member parliamentary committee. The committee had submitted 566 recommendations in a 4,584-page report, suggesting the bill be clarified, tightened, and aligned with existing legal frameworks.

Other bills scheduled for introduction include the National Sports Administration Bill 2025, the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2025, and the Indian Ports Bill 2025.

While the INDIA Bloc protest drew national attention, the EC meeting—limited to a small delegation—will determine whether opposition leaders succeed in formally presenting their concerns over alleged voter list manipulation.