Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Kharge to Host INDIA Bloc MPs After ‘Vote Chori’ Protest
Mallikarjun Kharge plans to meet INDIA bloc MPs for lunch in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
at Sagar Ratna.
The MPs are expected to talk about what to do next over claims of “vote chori,” or vote theft.
They also want Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi and other opposition MPs tried to march to the Election Commission’s office.
Police stopped many of them, and Gandhi led a sit-in that lasted more than eight hours.
Police said nearly 250 people were detained.
Gandhi and several other leaders were later released.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is scheduled to host INDIA bloc MPs for lunch on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.
The lunch is planned at Sagar Ratna on Janpath in New Delhi.
The MPs are expected to discuss next steps over “vote chori” allegations and their demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi led an opposition march toward the Election Commission’s office and an eight-hour sit-in after police stopped MPs from proceeding.
Police said nearly 250 people were detained; Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders were released after a brief detention.
- Who
- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and INDIA bloc MPs; Rahul Gandhi led the preceding protest.
- What
- Kharge plans to host the MPs for lunch, where they are expected to discuss next steps over “vote chori” allegations and a demand for the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation.
- When
- The lunch is scheduled for Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.; the march and sit-in took place on Tuesday. The report is dated October 7.
- Where
- Sagar Ratna on Janpath, New Delhi; the protest took place near Parliament Street and the Election Commission’s office.
- Why
- The MPs are seeking to press their concerns over alleged “vote chori” and demand Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Opposition MPs
Police
March toward the Election Commission
Opposition MPs
Opposition MPs sought to march to the Election Commission’s office and said they wanted to meet the election commissioners.
Police
Police barricaded the route and stopped MPs from proceeding; the reports do not provide a specific explanation from police for the restrictions.
Handling of the sit-in
Opposition MPs
Gandhi and other protesters continued their sit-in until police forcibly removed and detained them.
Police
Police detained nearly 250 people; the reports do not include a detailed police account of the removal.
- Lunch host
- Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president
- Attendees
- INDIA bloc MPs
- Scheduled time
- Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.
- Venue
- Sagar Ratna, Janpath, New Delhi
- Protest issue
- Opposition allegations of “vote chori”
- Opposition demand
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation
- Detentions
- Police said nearly 250 people were detained
