Kharge calls oppn MPs’ meet to seek CEC audience
New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has convened a lunch meeting for Opposition MPs at 1 PM in the capital city, aiming to secure a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. This development follows the INDIA bloc leaders' march towards Nirvachan Sadan on October 6, protesting against the Election Commission and CEC over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Congress party expressed that the Constitution and democracy are paramount, and until they are fully protected, their struggle will persist. The INDIA bloc has been demanding answers from the Election Commission, accusing it of failing to address their concerns. The Opposition's protest was part of their Save Democracy campaign.
Leaders from various INDIA bloc parties had marched towards Nirvachan Sadan but were halted by barricades. They were subsequently joined by a sit-in at AkashvBhawan, where it was reported that around 300 Opposition MPs wished to meet the Election Commissioners and submit their grievances. Multiple Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were later arrested by the Delhi Police.
Upon the protest, the Election Commission stated that no political party had requested an appointment with them until 4 PM. The ECI mentioned that the Delhi Police informed them around 4 PM that a delegation of approximately 240 MPs, led by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, sought a meeting with the Election Commissioners and intended to submit a memorandum at Parliament House Annexe. The poll panel deemed the venue and the request's method unusual, as per their established protocol.
Later, the Election Commission clarified that no political party had sought an appointment with the Election Commission as of 4 PM. Subsequently, around 4 PM, the Delhi Police informed the ECI that a delegation of MPs, led by Rahul Gandhi, desired to meet the Commission and submit a memorandum. The Election Commission had considered sending its most senior executive to receive the memorandum, but the offer was declined.
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