New Delhi: A group of Opposition MPs led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi marched from Parliament towards Rashtrapati Bhavan for a scheduled meeting with President Droupadi Murmu. They are demanding that Gyanesh Kumar resign as Chief Election Commissioner. Their three-point charter also seeks a halt to the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls and the restoration of the 13 crore voters excluded in the drafts.
A group of 10 leaders eventually went in for the meeting. The others staged a sit-in at Kartavya Path along the route, holding placards that read “Gyanesh, it’s done bro!” and raising slogans alleging “vote chori”.
Memorandum signed at INDIA bloc meeting
The march followed a meeting of around 150 INDIA bloc MPs in the Central Hall of Parliament. There, 16 leaders from 16 different parties signed the memorandum to be submitted to the President, raising concerns over the functioning of the Election Commission of India (EC).
#WATCH | Delhi: INDIA bloc MPs begin their march from Parliament to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Opposition MPs are on their way to meet President Droupadi Murmu to raise their concerns regarding the functioning of the Election Commission of India. https://t.co/QdGa0lKJb5
— ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2026
At the meeting, Gandhi said the Opposition’s demonstrations over the past few days have “shaken the foundation of the government”.
Leaders react
Speaking to reporters before the march, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Kumar Jha, who is among the 11 leaders meeting the President, said, “The demand is the same as that of the entire country: to dismantle the entire structure of dishonesty, and Gyanesh Kumar is standing like a shield.”
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, “All patriots are engaged in strengthening the country’s democracy, regardless of whether they are members of any political party or not… I salute all the patriots who have come to the streets.”
Jantar Mantar protest call on Saturday
The youth movement Cockroach Janta Party, which forced the education minister’s resignation in July over paper leaks, has called for a protest at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi on Saturday, October 10. The government has deployed thousands of police personnel and cut internet access within a 4-km radius of Jantar Mantar for 24 hours, starting at 10 pm on Friday.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of acting out of fear, referring to the closure of metro stations and the cancellation of train services ahead of the Jantar Mantar protest call. “A person who is afraid will die tomorrow, if not today,” he said.
“The mistakes committed by Gyanesh Kumar have created a situation of fear in the country and put democracy in danger. That is why we are going to meet the President and apprise her of the things he has done,” Kharge told reporters.
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