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AISF and AIYF cadres arrested in Chennai anti-CEC protest

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India · Oct 10, 2026

Is it still on?

NOIt was a one-day action on Oct 10.

Last report · checked

Summary in three lines

Why they are protesting
Protesters opposed alleged vote theft, electoral roll deletions, and the actions of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
What they want
Demanded the resignation and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and criminal proceedings against him.
What changed
Oct 10: Chennai police arrested over 100 AISF and AIYF members and detained over 30 others near Besant Nagar.
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Both sides

What protesters want

  • Resignation and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
  • Criminal proceedings and action regarding alleged vote theft
  • Protection of voting rights and opposition to the SIR exercise

Organised by: All India Students' Federation (AISF), All India Youth Federation (AIYF), Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)

What authorities say

Chennai police intercepted the marchers, prevented them from proceeding, and detained over 100 AISF and AIYF cadres as well as over 30 demonstrators near Elliot's Beach, stating the gatherings lacked prior permission according to sources [1, 2, 3].123

The numbers

Only figures a source states, with who said it. Estimates often differ.

Arrests / detentions
130+
More than 100 cadres of the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) and the All India Youth Federation (AIYF) were…123
Injuries
1
During the scuffle, Kavin, a protester from Mylapore, sustained a head injury and was taken to hospital for treatment.1

The full story

On October 10, 2026, anti-Chief Election Commissioner protests took place in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, organized in connection with a wider agitation called by the Cockroach Janata Party and Left organisations. More than 100 cadres from the All India Students' Federation (AISF) and the All India Youth Federation (AIYF) were arrested while attempting to march to the Tamil Nadu Secretariat. Separately, more than 30 protesters gathered in solidarity near Elliot's Beach in Besant Nagar and were detained by police for lacking prior permission. Protesters accused the CEC of orchestrating vote theft and unconstitutionally deleting millions of names from electoral rolls. The police action drew condemnation from various political figures, including DMK chief M.K. Stalin.

Timeline

  1. Over 30 demonstrators were detained by police near Elliot's Beach in Besant Nagar after talks failed.123

  2. AISF and AIYF members gathered on Anna Salai to march toward the Secretariat, leading to arrests by Chennai police.1

Pins sit on city centres, never on gathering points

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