New Delhi

Several opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O'Brien, were detained on Tuesday after police stopped an INDIA bloc march towards the Election Commission and the protesters sat on a dharna demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

Leaders of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi joined the march from the Parliament House complex, which was stopped on Parliament Street near the NITI Aayog office, between NITI Aayog and Akashvani Bhawan.

Gandhi was seen climbing the barricades and waving the Tricolour as security personnel prevented the protesters from proceeding towards the poll body's headquarters.

Yadav, O'Brien, Banerjee, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, Congress MP Jothimani and other opposition leaders were detained and taken away in buses.

"We are being detained and taken to an unknown location," Ghose posted on X.

Kharge said the opposition would continue its protest to protect voting rights and democracy.

"This protest will continue. We are doing this to protect your vote and your freedom," the Congress president said.

"The people of the country are saying that many of their votes have been deleted and vote theft is taking place, and we are fighting and will continue to fight for their protection," he said.

Kharge said saving democracy was the first priority, followed by the demand for Kumar's resignation.

"It is not just the people of the INDIA bloc who are here; everyone has gathered here because they feel that their vote is being taken away and their freedom is being lost," he said.

Yadav accused the Election Commission of bias and said its decisions should be impartial.

"It is not a new thing that allegations have been made against the Election Commission. It should take impartial decisions that do not appear biased. The BJP should set up its office in the Election Commission," he said.

"The Election Commission is deciding who will remain a citizen of India. Just think about it," Yadav alleged.

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Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant also attacked Kumar, alleging, "The Chief Election Commissioner is a corrupt man. He has worked as a slave of the ruling party."