In Brief
- A 10-member INDIA bloc delegation, including Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, met with President Droupadi Murmu for nearly an hour on October 9, 2026.
- The Opposition submitted a formal memorandum accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of subverting the electoral system, while demanding the CEC's resignation.
- Gandhi claimed that instead of defending the electoral framework, the President did not dispute their claims and requested concrete proof to substantiate allegations of 'vote chori' (vote theft).
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi expressed astonishment following a meeting between an INDIA bloc delegation and President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday, October 9, 2026.
The opposition leaders marched to Rashtrapati Bhavan to submit a detailed memorandum concerning alleged irregularities in the Election Commission's handling of electoral rolls and the conduct of recent polls. The delegation included key regional and national figures, such as Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and NCP(SP) leader Supriya Sule.
Speaking to the media after the nearly hour-long interaction, Gandhi claimed he was surprised that the President did not immediately counter their allegations of "vote chori" or argue that India maintains a completely free and fair electoral process.
"I was shocked and I was stunned that the President accepted what we said," Gandhi told reporters, noting that the delegation was asked to provide documentary evidence supporting their claims. "We will happily take proof of 'vote chori' to the President when she is ready to accept it."
The memorandum presented by the bloc called for strict oversight of the poll body, the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and a return to traditional ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs). Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee affirmed that the alliance intends to compile and present formal evidence substantiating their claims of systemic electoral fraud.
Rashtrapati Bhavan has not issued an official statement regarding the contents or remarks stemming from the closed-door discussion.
