Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Wednesday joined the opposition INDIA bloc demonstration in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll irregularities. Satheesan walked from Kerala House towards the protest site at Jantar Mantar before being intercepted by police forces. He declared that legal actions against Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi represent an attack on democratic dissent.

The march formed part of a wider opposition campaign against "vote chori" (vote theft) and irregularities linked to the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. On Tuesday, Delhi Police registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra following an eight-hour sit-in inside Akashvani Bhawan, where 260 people were detained after a march to the Election Commission was halted.

Detained at Barakhamba police station

Police stopped Satheesan en route to Jantar Mantar and relocated him to Barakhamba police station. Writing on social media platform X, he termed the detention an assault on constitutional rights.

"An elected Chief Minister cannot be picked up for joining a peaceful protest," Satheesan posted. "It recalls the colonial police state, when the British treated political protest as a crime. Democracy is not a favour granted by the police. We will not be silenced".

Standing outside Barakhamba police station, where arrested leaders were held, Satheesan reaffirmed his stance in a Facebook message. He described the agitation as a historic fight to safeguard democracy and remove those who subverted elections from constitutional positions. He added that the movement, supported by millions, would be recorded in "golden letters" in the nation's democratic history.

Allegations of voter list tampering

Addressing the underlying electoral grievances, Satheesan alleged that a conspiracy between the Central Government and the Election Commission had led to the removal of crores of legitimate voters across India. He stated that such manipulations enabled the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to win elections across several states.

Satheesan dismissed police cases filed against Congress leaders, insisting that state intimidation would fail to halt demonstrations.

"Those who believe this movement can be crushed through police cases are living in a fool's paradise," he asserted. "The fight against vote theft will not stop. The fight to defend our Constitution will not stop".

He recalled that the Indian National Congress was "forged in the struggle against British rule" and maintained that its spirit of resistance remained unshaken. "Did anyone really believe that 45 cases could intimidate Rahul Gandhi or silence the Congress?" Satheesan asked, noting that Kerala stands firmly behind Gandhi. Gandhi himself described the multiple FIRs as a "medal on my chest".

Stand with Rahul Gandhi

Satheesan strongly criticised police handling of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, describing their treatment as remarkably cruel and stating that Gandhi was forcibly dragged away. He questioned the authorities' decision to bar opposition leaders from Jantar Mantar.

"If you say the Leader of Opposition of India has no right to protest at Jantar Mantar, what kind of autocracy is this?" Satheesan remarked.

After police initially blocked him from meeting Gandhi, Satheesan demanded that officers either allow access or arrest him as well. Upon being permitted inside, Satheesan reported that Gandhi remained in high spirits, continuing the battle with "double enthusiasm" to inspire democratic believers across the nation.