Opposition leaders from the INDIA bloc met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday evening and submitted a memorandum alleging "vote chori", demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a return to paper ballots in place of electronic voting machines.
The delegation included Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule, RJD's Manoj Jha, VCK's Thol. Thirumavalavan, IUML's ET Mohammed Basheer, CPI-M's M A Baby and CPI's D Raja.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Gandhi said the President had asked the opposition to furnish evidence supporting its allegations. He said the memorandum stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and CEC Kumar had, in his words, "conspired to destroy Indian democracy" — a charge the government and the Election Commission have repeatedly rejected.
Gandhi also announced that the bloc would meet Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday with a similar memorandum.
The march and the EC backdrop
Earlier in the day, INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk carrying a "Save Democracy" banner, where they were stopped at police barricades. The protest follows an Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded their objections at least 14 times over ten months on decisions linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission responded that differences of view are a normal part of internal deliberations.
What happens next
The opposition's planned meeting with the Chief Justice on Monday adds a judicial dimension to a dispute that has now spanned street marches, the presidential office and the courts.
Sources:
- New Indian Express: INDIA bloc submits 'vote chori' memorandum to President Murmu
- Times Now: 'Vote Chori' Row: INDIA Bloc Urges President Murmu To Set Aside EVMs, She Asks For Evidence
- Economic Times: Rahul Gandhi says President Murmu sought proof of 'election chori'
The delegation included Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule, RJD's Manoj Jha, VCK's Thol. Thirumavalavan, IUML's ET Mohammed Basheer, CPI-M's M A Baby and CPI's D Raja.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Gandhi said the President had asked the opposition to furnish evidence supporting its allegations. He said the memorandum stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and CEC Kumar had, in his words, "conspired to destroy Indian democracy" — a charge the government and the Election Commission have repeatedly rejected.
Gandhi also announced that the bloc would meet Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday with a similar memorandum.
The march and the EC backdrop
Earlier in the day, INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk carrying a "Save Democracy" banner, where they were stopped at police barricades. The protest follows an Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded their objections at least 14 times over ten months on decisions linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission responded that differences of view are a normal part of internal deliberations.
What happens next
The opposition's planned meeting with the Chief Justice on Monday adds a judicial dimension to a dispute that has now spanned street marches, the presidential office and the courts.
Sources:
- New Indian Express: INDIA bloc submits 'vote chori' memorandum to President Murmu
- Times Now: 'Vote Chori' Row: INDIA Bloc Urges President Murmu To Set Aside EVMs, She Asks For Evidence
- Economic Times: Rahul Gandhi says President Murmu sought proof of 'election chori'
