Derek O’Brien Hails INDIA Bloc Protest Against ECI: ‘High on Energy, Low on Egos’

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien on Tuesday praised the INDIA bloc’s show of strength during a protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the national capital, saying the opposition grouping was “high on energy” and “low on egos”.

In a post on X, O’Brien wrote: “I.N.D.I.A. 150+ MPs on the ground today in the capital. High on energy. Low on egos.”

More than 150 INDIA bloc MPs, led by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, staged a sit-in at the Akashvani Bhawan premises, a short distance from the ECI headquarters.

Gandhi, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Pawan Khera and Imran Pratapgarhi were among the opposition leaders seen sitting in protest under a tree inside the premises after leaders pushed open the gates while attempting to reach the ECI office, located nearby.

According to sources, a PCR call was subsequently made from Akashvani Bhawan alleging that Gandhi had entered the premises forcibly.

Addressing reporters, Khera said the ECI office was only about 100 metres away but Gandhi, despite being the Leader of Opposition, was not being allowed to proceed there to submit a memorandum. He described the police action as an indication of the “state of democracy” in the national capital.

The protesting MPs carried tricolours and banners carrying the message “Save democracy” and raised slogans targeting the Chief Election Commissioner, the BJP and the RSS as they moved towards the ECI headquarters.

Delhi Police and other security personnel were deployed in large numbers, while barricades were erected outside the ECI office as security was tightened in view of the demonstration.

Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and several other INDIA bloc leaders were briefly detained after being stopped from proceeding towards the ECI office. Gandhi was stopped by multiple layers of barricades and later climbed onto one of them while waving a large national flag, prompting slogans of support from opposition leaders and workers.