Archive · 9 Oct 2026
INDIA Bloc Weighs Fourth Day of Vote Chori Protests
India’s opposition INDIA bloc says it is worried about changes to voter lists and what it calls “vote chori.”
Its members planned to meet in Delhi on Friday to decide what to do next.
They may hold another protest, which would be their fourth day in a row.
On Thursday, opposition leaders held a sit-in at Rajghat.
They have also asked President Droupadi Murmu to meet them and say they are waiting for an answer.
The opposition says it will keep protesting until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns.
The Election Commission says disagreements can happen during its work and that its decisions follow the law.
The allegations by the opposition remain contested.
INDIA bloc MPs planned to meet Friday at 3 pm in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan to decide their next steps.
The meeting could be followed by a fourth consecutive day of protests over alleged vote manipulation and the electoral-roll revision.
The bloc has asked President Droupadi Murmu for an appointment and said it will wait until Friday for a response.
Opposition leaders staged a sit-in at Rajghat on Thursday and pledged to continue protesting until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns.
The Election Commission said differing views are normal and its orders follow statutory procedures and carry legal sanction.
- Who
- INDIA bloc MPs and opposition leaders; Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission are central to the dispute.
- What
- The bloc planned a meeting to decide whether to continue protests over alleged vote manipulation and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- When
- The MPs were due to meet Friday, October 9, 2026, at 3 pm; opposition leaders staged a sit-in on Thursday.
- Where
- The planned meeting was at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan in Delhi; Thursday's sit-in was at Rajghat.
- Why
- The opposition alleges vote manipulation and irregularities related to the electoral-roll revision; the Election Commission says its orders follow statutory procedures.
Opposition's allegations
Election Commission's response
Voter-roll revision and alleged vote manipulation
Opposition's allegations
The INDIA bloc alleges vote chori and irregularities linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and says its agitation will continue until Gyanesh Kumar resigns.
Election Commission's response
The Election Commission says its orders carry legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures; the opposition's allegations remain contested.
Reported internal objections
Opposition's allegations
The opposition points to a report that Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections at least 14 times over 10 months, mostly concerning SIR decisions.
Election Commission's response
The Election Commission says differing views and observations are a normal part of institutional deliberations.
- Planned meeting
- INDIA bloc MPs were set to meet at 3 pm Friday in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan.
- Potential protest
- The meeting could be followed by a fourth consecutive day of protests.
- Request to the President
- The bloc sent an initial appointment request to President Droupadi Murmu on October 2 and resubmitted it with leaders' names on October 5.
- Requested appointment dates
- The bloc sought a meeting on October 7, 8 or 9 and said it would wait until Friday for a response.
- Thursday's demonstration
- Opposition leaders held a sit-in at Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi's memorial.
- Reported commissioner objections
- A report by The Indian Express said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections at least 14 times over 10 months, mostly concerning SIR decisions.
- Election Commission response
- The Commission said differing views are normal and its orders have legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.
