India
oi-Ashish Rana
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday said that no political party had formally sought a meeting with the poll panel before 4 pm, even as Opposition MPs led by Rahul Gandhi protested in New Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Election Commission of India stated it learned of the Opposition’s meeting request, led by Rahul Gandhi, only at 4 PM via Delhi Police, declining it due to procedural norms requiring authorized representatives and meetings at ECI premises, not Parliament House Annexe.
The INDIA bloc had marched towards the Election Commission’s office, demanding a meeting with the poll panel and Kumar’s resignation. The march was stopped by Delhi Police, after which Opposition MPs staged a sit-in.
EC Says It Received Information At 4 PM
In a statement issued later, the ECI said Delhi Police informed it at around 4 pm that a delegation of MPs led by Gandhi wanted to meet the Commission and submit a memorandum.
The poll panel said political parties are required to seek appointments through their authorised representatives. It said this procedure was laid down in 2025 and had been communicated to all political parties.
“Whenever a delegation of a political party, or a joint delegation of several parties, wishes to meet the Commission, it seeks an appointment through its duly authorised representative,” the ECI said.
Election Commission of India Press Note Date 🗓️ — 6 October 2026Read more 👉 https://t.co/q6CXhdZCdz#ECI https://t.co/QI0l1wOFlr
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) October 6, 2026
Why EC Declined Meeting With 240 MPs
The Commission said Delhi Police later informed it that the proposed delegation would include around 240 MPs and that the meeting was to be held at Parliament House Annexe.
The ECI called the request “unusual” and said it could not accept it because meetings with political parties are held at the Commission’s premises.
However, the poll panel offered to send its most senior serving officer to Parliament House Annexe to receive the memorandum. The ECI said the MPs declined the offer.
Opposition Protest Over Electoral Rolls
The protest followed an Opposition meeting on September 30, after which INDIA bloc parties announced the march to Nirvachan Sadan.
Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and other leaders joined the protest.
The Opposition has raised allegations over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and questioned the Election Commission’s functioning. Gandhi has also alleged changes to Form 6, which is used for voter registration.
The ECI has rejected the allegations. The Commission said political parties can request meetings at any time, with the date and time decided according to its availability.
