Next challenge for govt.: how to stop largely ‘leaderless’ crowd from regrouping after October 10 anti-CEC protest

Despite successfully deterring protesters demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation from gathering at Jantar Mantar on October 10, 2026, the Indian government faced the challenge of preventing the loosely organized crowd from regrouping in the days that followed. The Supreme Court's hearing on the restrictions in Delhi on October 9 led to contemplation of allowing protesters to use Ramlila Maidan instead, but neither the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) nor Left youth groups made such a request.

Pellet guns, which had injured four individuals on July 20 during protests, were withdrawn from the Rapid Action Force's riot gear for the October 10 protest, while some Border Security Force personnel were observed carrying a submachine gun. Government officials stated that replicating the scale of security seen on October 10 would not be feasible in the coming days, and that detaining protesters for over 24 hours would be illegal.

The Connaught Place area, a major commercial hub, was briefly blocked off on October 10 at police request and could not remain closed indefinitely. 20-30 armed police and security personnel were stationed at each point where radial roads led to Jantar Mantar. While a visible security presence might persist in the area, officials emphasized that the situation required a political resolution rather than merely being a "law-and-order" issue.

Some protesters, including CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, and Saurav Das, were detained upon their arrival at the Delhi airport on October 10 morning, but this did not significantly affect the crowd on the ground.