Spotlight
oi-Oneindia Staff
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) continued its protest against alleged vote theft in New Delhi on Monday, 12 October 2026, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. On the third consecutive day of demonstrations, Delhi Police detained Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj and several party workers as they marched towards Jantar Mantar.
On October 12, 2026, AAP’s protest against alleged vote theft in New Delhi led to the detention of Sanjay Singh and Saurabh Bharadwaj by police. The party demanded the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, ballot paper voting, and permission for a protest at Ramlila Maidan.
AAP leaders alleged that police personnel used force against protesters and demanded permission to hold their demonstration at Ramlila Maidan after Jantar Mantar was denotified as a protest site.
Sanjay Singh Demands Ballot Paper Voting
Sanjay Singh called for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, alleging that 13 crore 37 lakh votes had been stolen. He also demanded that elections be conducted using ballot papers and that the process of appointing election commissioners be made impartial, without the government holding a majority in the selection process.
“Gyanesh Kumar must resign because he has stolen 13 crore 37 lakh votes. Elections in the country must be conducted using ballot papers, and the process of selecting election commissioners must be made impartial, with the government not having a majority in the selection process. The government must provide us with Ramlila Maidan to hold our protest,” Singh said.
Saurabh Bharadwaj Alleges Police Brutality
Saurabh Bharadwaj said AAP would continue its protest until Gyanesh Kumar resigned. He alleged that police personnel had used force against party workers but insisted that the party would continue its agitation peacefully.
“Delhi Police can beat us with batons, drag us along the streets, tear our clothes or break our heads, but we will continue to demand our rights through non-violence and will ensure that Gyanesh Kumar resigns,” he said.
Bharadwaj also criticised the decision to denotify Jantar Mantar as a protest site, claiming the government was concerned about the growing number of demonstrators. He urged the authorities to provide Ramlila Maidan as an alternative venue.
AAP Leader Seeks LG Probe Into Choking Allegation
In a video shared on X, Bharadwaj alleged that Delhi Police personnel had tried to choke him during the protest for the second time. He claimed that police surrounded him to prevent media cameras from recording the incident.
“Delhi Police tried to strangulate me. This is the second time that Delhi Police has tried to strangulate me. Abhishek kumar shouted that they were choking me and a policeman shoved him in the face. Police intentionally surrounded me so that media cameras could not record the video. Lieutenant Governor should investigate this matter,” he said.
Gopal Rai Says Protest Will Continue
Senior AAP leader and Gujarat in-charge Gopal Rai said the party would continue its movement wherever it could find space to demonstrate.
“We will continue our movement and satyagraha wherever we find space. This movement will continue until the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is scrapped, Gyanesh Kumar resigns and free and fair elections are held in the country,” Rai said.
The party reiterated that its protest would continue until its demands were met.
