Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was detained by Delhi Police on Saturday while heading to Jantar Mantar to participate in a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Vijayan, a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), was detained along with Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas and former Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal. The leaders were travelling from Kerala House towards the protest venue when police personnel intercepted them amid heightened security arrangements across the national capital.

Other prominent Left leaders, including CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby and Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat, were also detained as they attempted to join the demonstration. The protest was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had called for a gathering at Jantar Mantar on October 10. The demonstration aimed to demand Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and raise concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Delhi Police had denied permission for the proposed gathering and imposed restrictions to prevent unauthorised assemblies.

Reacting to his detention, Vijayan accused the Narendra Modi-led central government and the Sangh Parivar of attempting to suppress democratic rights. In a post on social media platform X, he argued that the police action would not weaken the determination of people seeking to protect their constitutional rights. He maintained that the protest was intended to defend democracy and the right to vote, while reiterating the demand for the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation. Vijayan also asserted that restrictions and barricades would not prevent citizens from raising their concerns.

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Following their detention, the leaders were taken to Chhatrasal Stadium, which was being used as a temporary detention facility. John Brittas later reported that the detained leaders were being moved from the stadium to another location without being informed of their destination. The detentions took place as Delhi witnessed extensive security arrangements ahead of the planned demonstration, with police personnel deployed at key locations and restrictions imposed around central areas of the city. Authorities had instructed police teams to prevent gatherings in violation of the restrictions.

The protest forms part of a wider political campaign against the SIR exercise and alleged irregularities in electoral rolls. Opposition leaders have raised concerns about the revision process and its potential impact on eligible voters, while demanding greater accountability from the Election Commission. The CJP’s October 10 demonstration sought to bring these issues into public focus and press for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. The detention of Vijayan and other senior Left leaders added to the political tensions surrounding the planned protest, with the participating parties maintaining that their campaign for electoral transparency and democratic rights would continue.

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