INDIA bloc leaders submit memorandum to Bihar governor, demand recall of CEC and re-election in state

Security personnel set up barricades to stop Mahagathbandhan supporters during Bihar Assembly LoP Tejashwi Yadav – led a protest march to Raj Bhawan for their various demands in Patna October 8, 2026 | Photo credit: ANI

Leaders of INDIA Bloc (Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance), led by National Working President of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Tejashwi Yadav, organized a massive Lok Bhavan march in Patna on Thursday (October 8, 2026). The demonstration was part of a nationwide agitation against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his resignation.

A large number of leaders and workers of the INDIA bloc gathered at the statues of the seven martyrs outside the Bihar Vidhan Sabha on a march and raised slogans against the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleged frauds in the Special Intensive Review (SIR).

The leaders who participated in the march were Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram, Mukesh Sahani of Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), Ramnaresh Pandey of Communist Party of India (CPI), Dipankar Bhattacharya of CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, IP Gupta of Indian Inclusive Party (IIP) and other leaders. Many leaders were even detained by the police, including Mr. Ram, who protested while handcuffed.

Police set up multi-layer roadblocks for security reasons; however, Mr. Yadav along with other leaders managed to cross two barricades but were prevented from moving forward by the police at the third. Police and INDIA block leaders also got involved in the scuffle.

“Bihar assembly elections were held by stealing votes. Gyanesh Kumar acted on the behest of BJP, he must resign. The whole election process is biased. Why is BJP trying to protect Gyanesh Kumar? Because they are the ones who sent him to steal votes. BJP is in power because of stealing Gyanesh Kumar,” Mr. Yadav said while talking to reporters during the march.

Later, a delegation of INDIA bloc led by Tejashwi Yadav went to Lok Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to Bihar Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain against the decisions taken by CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

In the memorandum, the INDIA bloc alleged that Gyanesh Kumar was acting on the orders of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. They pointed out that despite opposition and disapproval from other election commissioners, Mr. Kumar decided to illegally disenfranchise a large number of voters.

“These actions, carried out through the ‘SIR’ mechanism just before the elections in Bihar and West Bengal and subsequently across the country, were meant to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). These decisions have shaken the very foundations of national democracy and reversed the natural and expected results of the past elections.” the block wrote in a memorandum.

The three-page memorandum further alleged that constitutional bodies like the ECI have abdicated the dignity of their autonomy and are involved in pandering to a particular ruling party and particular individuals in a bid to secure their electoral victories.

They submitted a memorandum to the Governor and said, “We remind you of your responsibility to uphold the Constitution and through you, we make demands to the President of India.”

The INDIA bloc demanded removal of Gyanesh Kumar from office and criminal proceedings against him. The leaders also demanded that the ongoing ‘SIR’ be stopped and the names of all voters removed from the electoral rolls must be restored immediately.

“The Election Commissioners Appointment Act, 2023 should be repealed. An inquiry should be conducted into the appointment and suspected role of the IT chief of the Election Commission, Seema Khanna, and elections in the country should be conducted through ballot papers,” the memorandum said.

They also demanded that the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections be declared illegal and annulled and fresh elections be held.

Published – October 9, 2026 02:03 AM IST