Archive · 10 Oct 2026
INDIA Bloc Seeks Election Chief’s Removal and SIR Halt
Leaders from 16 opposition parties met President Droupadi Murmu.
They said they believe elections have been unfair and asked her to take several steps.
These included removing election chief Gyanesh Kumar and stopping the SIR.
They also asked for voters they say were wrongly removed from voter lists to be put back.
Rahul Gandhi said the President did not reject the group’s accusations and asked them to show proof.
He said the group would provide evidence and take a similar request to the Supreme Court.
The BJP said Rahul Gandhi’s account was a lie.
Mamata Banerjee said the group asked the President to help protect democracy.
Leaders from 16 INDIA parties marched to Rashtrapati Bhavan, and a 10-member delegation met President Droupadi Murmu.
Their memorandum demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s removal, an immediate halt to the SIR and restoration of 13.30 crore voters allegedly deleted from electoral rolls.
The demands also included returning to paper ballots and repealing Assembly polls from the past two years where the bloc says there is conclusive evidence of vote theft.
Rahul Gandhi said Murmu did not deny the bloc’s allegations and asked the group to provide proof; he said it would take evidence to her and submit a similar memorandum to the Supreme Court.
The BJP called Rahul Gandhi’s account a lie; Mamata Banerjee said the group urged Murmu to protect democracy and the republic.
- Who
- Leaders from 16 INDIA parties, including Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee, met President Droupadi Murmu.
- What
- They submitted a memorandum seeking Gyanesh Kumar’s removal, a halt to the SIR and other election-related changes.
- When
- Friday evening.
- Where
- Rashtrapati Bhavan, India.
- Why
- The leaders alleged election theft and sought action on voter-roll deletions and election procedures.
Opposition leaders’ account
BJP’s response
Allegations of election theft
Opposition leaders’ account
Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister, Amit Shah and Gyanesh Kumar had conspired to damage Indian democracy, and said the President did not deny the claims.
BJP’s response
The BJP called Rahul Gandhi’s claim about the President’s response a lie.
Requested election changes
Opposition leaders’ account
The INDIA delegation sought Gyanesh Kumar’s removal, a halt to the SIR, restoration of voters it said were deleted, a return to paper ballots and repeal of certain Assembly polls.
BJP’s response
The article reports no detailed BJP response to these specific demands.
- Parties represented
- 16 INDIA parties
- Delegation size
- 10 members
- Voters referenced
- 13.30 crore, whom the memorandum said were illegally deleted from electoral rolls
- Requested election chief action
- Removal of Gyanesh Kumar
- Requested SIR action
- Immediate suspension
- Further step announced
- Rahul Gandhi said the MPs would take a similar memorandum to the Supreme Court