India
Bihar Opposition Leaders Detained as Protest Against CEC Escalates
In Patna, senior opposition figures, including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, VIP chief Mukesh Sahni, and RJD MP Misha Bharti, were detained by police and escorted toward Lok Bhavan after a march toward Raj Bhavan was halted. The protest, aimed at demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saw heavy security measures, with multi‑layered barricades, riot gear and armed personnel deployed near the Bihar Vidhan Sabha. Yadav criticized the security arrangement, saying, “AK‑47s have been deployed here. Such weapons are meant to deal with terrorists, not democratic protests,” and vowed that the march would continue until the CEC’s resignation. The confrontation exposed coordination gaps within the opposition; the Congress party’s participation was limited, with only senior leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan present. Congress president Rajesh Ram expressed frustration over police actions, while I.P. Gupta called for introspection within the party. The incident underscores the opposition’s confrontational approach toward constitutional bodies and the organisational challenges within its coalition in Bihar.