Key developments in the ECI row: A timeline

With an Indian Express report detailing how two Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected 14 times in 10 months to decisions taken by the ECI - some of which they said were taken without their knowledge - the actions of the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar have come under scrutiny with nationwide protests demanding his resignation intensifying last week.

The Supreme Court, on Monday (October 5, 2026), said that the changes to Form 6 were not made by the court, and issued notice to the ECI and the Centre seeking responses in a week on a plea challenging the manner in which the poll panel led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar took decisions allegedly without the approval of two Election Commissioners.

Intensifying protests, especially in Delhi, resulted in several protesters being detained. AISA members alleged that a male police officer manhandled AISA National President Neha Bora during the police action and that another Delhi Police officer abused her. Three female journalists came forward with complaints of sexual harassment against ACP Vivek Bhagat. The Delhi Police said three such complaints have been received and transferred to the Crime Branch for inquiry on Sunday (October 4, 2026). “The police can very well register an FIR and then transfer it to the Crime Branch for investigation. But FIR is a must, as the allegations are of molestation,” says Ms. Ratna Singh, legal affairs head of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

Read more about the developments in the timeline detailed below.

INDIA bloc MPs, including Leaders of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) marched from the Parliament House complex towards the Election Commission of India but were stopped by police on Parliament Street, where they sat on a dharna demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

The CJP has also announced a protest on October 10, 2026.