India
oi-Gaurav Sharma
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he was “shocked and stunned” by the reply of President Droupadi Murmu to a delegation of INDIA bloc leaders which had sought action against vote theft allegations and malpractices by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Speaking to reporters after the meeting with the President, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, said he was “not surprised or hurt” if the President asked them to withdraw the allegation of vote fraud as she “defended democracy”. He added that her reply was surprising but he did not elaborate.’
INDIA bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, presented allegations of electoral malpractice and vote theft against the Election Commission to President Droupadi Murmu, demanding a switch from EVMs to ballot papers, and were asked to provide proof.
Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said that the memorandum presented before the President by the delegation of opposition leaders was regarding “allegations of electoral malpractice and the functioning of the ECI”.
He further stated that the opposition leaders demanded the discontinuation of the use of EVMs and hand-voting should be done instead. Kharge added that the President asked for proof and the opposition is in the process of collating the required documents.
The Congress chief also said that the meeting also comprised allegations of “assault on democracy” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah involved in “anti-democratic practices”, which has been alleged by the opposition, but not proven.
The meeting comprised of several prominent INDIA bloc members including, Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The meeting was held by ten opposition leaders who wrote to the President regarding “electoral malpractice” and “irregularities” by the Election Commission.
During a protest in Vijay Chowk, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and general secretary KC Venugopal raised slogans against Gyanesh Kumar. Prior to the meeting, Priyanka Gandhi expressed her dissatisfaction over the closure of a metro station as opposition leaders marched towards Rashtrapati Bhavan, saying, “This is what you call fear.”
The opposition’s meeting with the President was organised in the wake of accusations of vote theft and alleged attempts at undermining the Election Commission’s transparency and integrity. The INDIA bloc promised to submit evidence in support of the allegations while pressing Mounting pressure over the electoral body.
