INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament toward the Election Commission headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the controversial Special Intensive Revision of voter lists.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav led the march. MPs tried to push open the gates of Akashvani Bhawan near the EC office, and several leaders were briefly detained after being stopped.

Security was heavy across central Delhi. Police set up barricades on Ashoka Road and Mahadev Road, with Rapid Action Force personnel and water cannons in place. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was imposed around Jantar Mantar.

The bloc wants the SIR rolled back, pre-SIR rolls used for future polls and a return to ballot papers instead of EVMs. The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear petitions challenging the poll body’s voter drive and the CEC’s conduct.