Archive · 9 Oct 2026
INDIA Bloc Asks Murmu to Act on Vote Theft Allegations
Leaders from several opposition parties met President Droupadi Murmu.
They gave her a written message about what they say are serious problems with elections.
They asked for changes, including using paper ballots and stopping a review of voter lists.
They also asked for the chief election commissioner to leave his job.
The leaders said many voters had been wrongly removed from the lists, but reports gave different totals for how many.
Murmu asked them to provide evidence, and the leaders said they were gathering it.
The Election Commission said disagreements inside the institution can happen and that it follows the law.
The opposition also said it plans more protests.
An INDIA bloc delegation met President Droupadi Murmu and submitted a memorandum alleging large-scale electoral fraud.
The bloc asked for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, suspension of the Special Intensive Revision, and a return to paper ballots.
Its demands also included restoring deleted voter names, repealing a 2023 law granting election commissioners immunity, and undoing certain Assembly election results.
The reports give different figures for voters the bloc says were deleted: 13.3 crore in one account and 13.8 crore in another.
Murmu asked for supporting evidence; bloc leaders said they were compiling it, while the Election Commission said institutional differences are normal and its decisions follow statutory procedures.
- Who
- INDIA bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Mamata Banerjee, met President Droupadi Murmu.
- What
- They submitted a memorandum alleging electoral fraud and seeking several changes to election administration and results.
- When
- The meeting was reported on October 9; the articles do not specify the year consistently.
- Where
- The meeting was with the President in New Delhi, according to the PTI report.
- Why
- The bloc said it wanted the President to address alleged vote theft and problems with electoral rolls and election administration.
INDIA Bloc
Election Commission
Alleged election fraud
INDIA Bloc
The bloc alleged large-scale vote theft and manipulation of electronic voting machines and voter rolls, and said it would submit evidence.
Election Commission
The Election Commission said differences during institutional deliberations are normal and that its decisions follow established statutory procedures.
Election administration
INDIA Bloc
The bloc sought Kumar’s resignation, suspension of the SIR exercise, restoration of deleted voter names, and a return to paper ballots.
Election Commission
The reports do not describe a direct Election Commission response to these specific demands.
- Delegation
- INDIA bloc opposition parties
- Recipient
- President Droupadi Murmu
- Memorandum demands
- Included Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, suspension of the SIR exercise, and a return to paper ballots
- Voter restoration figures
- One report says 13.3 crore; another says 13.8 crore
- Additional legal demand
- Repeal of a 2023 law that the bloc says grants lifelong immunity to the CEC and election commissioners
- President’s response
- She asked the delegation to provide evidence; bloc leaders said they were compiling it
- Election Commission response
- It said differences of opinion in institutional deliberations are normal and its decisions follow statutory procedures
- Planned action
- The bloc announced further rallies and “Save Democracy” marches
