Congress leader Rahul Gandhi intensified his criticism of the Election Commission and the government during the Opposition’s protest in Delhi, saying 45 FIRs had been filed against him and making it clear he wanted more cases to be registered. He called every FIR a “medal” and said he would continue to raise his concerns over the electoral process.
His comments came shortly after the highly-publicized protest by INDIA bloc MPs against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission of India (ECI). Opposition leaders have been challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and have raised allegations of irregularities, which the Election Commission has rejected.
Gandhi said there were Opposition MPs who wanted to meet the Chief Election Commissioner and the other Election Commissioners. And he said about 300 MPs from both Houses of Parliament had tried to meet the poll panel but were stopped as they walked from Parliament to the Election Commission headquarters.
The Election Commission said no political party had sought an appointment through its authorised representative by 4 pm on Tuesday according to a statement from India Today. The poll panel said that under the process introduced in 2025, political parties are required to seek appointments through an authorised representative.
Rahul Gandhi's ‘45 FIRs, 45 Medals’ Remark
Gandhi said he was prepared to face legal cases over his participation in the protests. He said he wanted 100 FIRs filed against him and described each case as a medal.
The Congress leader has repeatedly used the protests to argue that Opposition voices are being prevented from reaching the Election Commission. He also asked for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and questioned the way in which the electoral roll revision is being conducted.
Gandhi further alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Gyanesh Kumar have undermined democracy. These are political allegations made by Gandhi and have not been established as facts.
Delhi: On the FIR filed against him for alleged forcible entry into Akashvani Bhavan during the INDIA bloc protest, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "I have 45 FIRs against me. My goal is to have 100. I want 100 FIRs to be filed against me. Every FIR is a medal for me" https://t.co/Zun8kKPAjZ
— IANS (@ians_india) October 7, 2026
The Opposition has centered the campaign around its concerns over SIR and the purported irregularities in voter rolls. The Election Commission has rejected the Opposition's allegations and defended its processes.
INDIA Bloc March To Election Commission
The controversy erupted when INDIA bloc MPs tried to march from Parliament towards the headquarters of the Election Commission on Tuesday. Delhi Police barricades stopped the protesters trying to march to Nirvachan Sadan.
The march was part of the Opposition’s demand to directly meet the Election Commissioners. Gandhi and others said they wanted to raise concerns over electoral rolls and seek answers from the poll panel.
The standoff continued for hours. Gandhi and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra later entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises where they and other Opposition leaders staged a sit-in. Police took the protesters into custody.
Reuters reported that police dismantled the sit-in and detained Gandhi and others including other lawmakers. The protesters were later released. Police said the action was necessary in relation to maintaining law and order.
FIR Filed After Akashvani Bhawan Protest
The political clash also resulted in fresh legal action. Delhi Police received a complaint about Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other protesters entering Akashvani Bhawan without permission.
An FIR was registered in connection with the incident. The complaint alleged that the leaders and others accompanying them entered the premises after the Opposition march had been stopped by police.
The development had even deeper implications for Gandhi’s “45 FIRs, 45 medals” phrase, as the latest protest has itself resulted in more legal proceedings involving Opposition leaders.
Political Tensions Continue Over SIR
One of the most significant political disputes is on the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have challenged how the exercise raises questions about voter inclusion and deletion, but the poll panel has maintained that the revision follows standard procedures.
In recent weeks, the dispute has moved beyond Parliament and into the streets of central Delhi, with repeated protests and a greater police presence around protest sites. Delhi Police also registered three FIRs in connection with protests at Jantar Mantar seeking the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar the previous month.
Gandhi said the Congress and its INDIA bloc partners would continue their campaign against the Election Commission. The Opposition has asked for more transparency and direct engagement with the poll panel, while the ECI has maintained that its processes are governed by established rules.
With protests, detentions and fresh FIRs adding to the dispute, SIR and the Election Commission have become a major political issue in Delhi. Gandhi’s “45 FIRs, 45 medals” comment is likely to remain one of the more prominent statements from the latest round of demonstrations as the Opposition continues to press its demands.
