Mamata Banerjee, TMC MPs Detained During Protest Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and several Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs were detained by Delhi Police on Saturday during a protest near Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration was organised by Opposition leaders amid allegations of electoral irregularities and demands for greater accountability from the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Banerjee joined the protesters in the national capital, where police personnel stopped the TMC delegation. Several party MPs, including Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen, were also detained. The action came as Opposition parties intensified their campaign against the Chief Election Commissioner over allegations of “vote chori” and concerns surrounding the conduct of elections.

During the demonstration, Banerjee staged a sit-in at a bus stop with a bandage covering her mouth. She criticised the treatment of the protesters and raised concerns over the handling of the demonstration by the authorities. The protest reflected the growing confrontation between the Opposition and the Election Commission over electoral processes and the institution’s functioning.

Other Opposition leaders also attempted to join the demonstration and were detained by the police. Those named in reports included former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar. Their participation highlighted the involvement of leaders from different political parties in the wider Opposition campaign against the Election Commission.

The latest protest followed a meeting between Opposition leaders and President Droupadi Murmu on Friday. During the meeting, the delegation sought the removal of Gyanesh Kumar from the post of Chief Election Commissioner, citing concerns over the functioning of the electoral body. The Opposition has repeatedly accused the commission of failing to address its concerns, allegations that have become a major point of political contention. Opposition leaders have also indicated that they intend to approach the Supreme Court and pursue further legal action over their complaints against the Election Commission.