Rahul Gandhi detained, Mahua Moitra faints at 'vote chori' protest

High drama unfolded in the national capital on Monday as nearly 300 Opposition MPs marched towards Election Commission office over the 'vote chori' charges, accusing the poll body of colluding with the BJP to facilitate their electoral goals through manipulation. Led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the march was stopped by police midway, prompting several MPs, including SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, to jump over the barricades.

Amid the chaos, sloganeering, detention and sit-in protest, two Trinamool Congress MPs -- Mahua Moitra and Mitali Baugh -- fainted. Fellow politicians were seen attempting to revive them with water and first aid. Baugh was shifted to hospital.

Delhi Police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, and another Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, Priyanka Chaturvedi.

As Rahul Gandhi and his colleagues were bussed away, he told reporters, "This fight is not political... it is to save the Constitution. The fight is for 'one person, one vote'." "The reality is they cannot talk... the truth is in front of the country," he declared.

Joint Commissioner of Police Deepak Purohit confirmed the detention but declined to give a number, telling reporters, "Detained INDIA bloc leaders have been taken to a nearby police station." He said the opposition did not have police permission for a protest of this scale, and that only a group of 30 MPs had been allowed to march to the Election Commission and submit a complaint.

The march began near Parliament and proceeded towards Nirbachan Sadan, the Election Commission headquarters. Holding placards with slogans such as "SIR: Stealing Democratic Rights" and "Vote Chori" (vote theft), the MPs raised their voices against the government and the Election Commission. They were stopped midway, where the MPs sat down on the road and continued their protest.

Several MPs clashed with the police, while leaders including SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool MPs Mahua Moitra and Sushmita Dev, Congress members Sanjana Jatav and Jothimani climbed the barricades and raised slogans.

Prominent among those who participated in the march were T R Baalu (DMK), Sanjay Raut (SS-UBT), Derek O'Brien (TMC), Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, as well as other MPs from opposition parties like the DMK, the RJD, Left parties.

The BJP hit back by labelling the opposition leaders' protest march a "well-thought' out strategy" to create a "state of anarchy". Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan slammed Rahul Gandhi, telling reporters, "The country can see who is working against the Constitution... Rahul Gandhi." Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also criticised the opposition and declared the government would not tolerate further attacks on the Election Commission.