The political showdown in the national capital reached a boiling point on Saturday afternoon, October 10, as Delhi Police detained top opposition leaders—including former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
The high-profile detentions took place amidst citywide demonstrations protesting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
South Avenue Sit-In & Citywide Detentions
Former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee was detained near South Avenue alongside senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, including Derek O’Brien, Dola Sen, Pratima Mondal, Samirul Islam, and Saket Gokhale. TMC representatives stated that leaders were held inside police transport vehicles as they staged a peaceful sit-in.
Concurrently, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal was intercepted and detained near his Lodhi Estate residence while attempting to march toward Jantar Mantar. CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan and senior party colleagues, including Brinda Karat and MP John Brittas, were also taken into custody.
”Capital Turned Into an Open Prison”: Opposition Reacts
Following his detention, Pinarayi Vijayan released a sharp statement on social media, accusing the ruling NDA administration of converting the national capital into an “open prison” to choke democratic voices.
”When those in power fear the voice of the people, democracy itself is under attack,” Vijayan stated. “The Modi government and the Sangh Parivar must understand that repression can never extinguish the people’s resolve to defend their rights. The struggle to protect the Constitution and voting rights will continue.”
Echoing similar concerns, Arvind Kejriwal described the pre-emptive crackdowns as “official dictatorship,” demanding the immediate rollback of controversial electoral roll modifications.
Unprecedented Security Grid Across Delhi
The detentions follow a massive security mobilization that has seen over 40,000 police and paramilitary personnel deployed across New Delhi, the closure of key metro stations, and widespread transit disruptions aimed at preventing protesters from converging on Jantar Mantar.
