INDIA Bloc Urges President Murmu to Oust Election Chief
Opposition leaders met President Droupadi Murmu to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll irregularities and vote theft.
Members of the INDIA bloc opposition alliance met with President Droupadi Murmu on October 9, 2026, to demand intervention regarding alleged vote theft and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. A delegation of leaders marched from Parliament House to Rashtrapati Bhavan to submit a memorandum, though the President granted an appointment to only 10 representatives.
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, has led the campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, calling for his resignation and prosecution. Gandhi told attending MPs that the government's foundations have been shaken and guaranteed the government would fall if current pressure continues. The opposition's grievances are bolstered by reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally objected to ECI decisions 14 times over the last 10 months.
The protests, which have entered their third day in New Delhi, included a sit-in at Rajghat and a blocked attempt to protest at Jantar Mantar. CPI(M) MP John Brittas stated that the meeting with the President would not deter the ongoing agitation. The Election Commission of India and the BJP have rejected the allegations, with the commission defending its statutory procedures and stating that differing internal views are a normal part of institutional deliberations.
