The INDIA bloc, a coalition of Opposition parties, announced on Friday that it would submit evidence of alleged electoral irregularities to President Droupadi Murmu. The commitment followed a nearly hour-long meeting between a 10-member Opposition delegation and the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where they sought the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, speaking after the meeting, expressed surprise that President Murmu had not challenged the Opposition’s allegations but instead requested concrete proof of the alleged electoral fraud. Gandhi affirmed the bloc’s readiness to provide this evidence, asserting that the irregularities had impacted multiple states across India.
“We clearly said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar are conspiring against Indian democracy,” Gandhi stated, reiterating the President’s request for supporting documentation.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, a member of the delegation, informed reporters that President Murmu had assured them she would examine the memorandum and investigate the allegations once the supporting evidence was received. Banerjee urged the President, whom she described as the custodian of the Constitution, to take appropriate measures to safeguard democratic principles.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted the delegation’s concerns regarding what they described as attempts by the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to undermine democratic institutions. Kharge noted that the President had listened attentively and indicated her intention to examine the matter before deciding on a course of action. He also reiterated the INDIA bloc’s long-standing demand for the replacement of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with traditional ballot papers.
Beyond the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, the INDIA bloc has put forth several other key demands. These include the immediate suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the restoration of approximately 13.8 crore names to the electoral rolls, according to Congress leader Pawan Khera. Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee further argued that merely removing the CEC would be insufficient and called for criminal proceedings against him.
The Opposition’s agitation follows a report by The Indian Express, which indicated that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on record at least 14 times over the preceding ten months, primarily concerning decisions related to the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has consistently maintained that differences of opinion during institutional deliberations are normal and that its decisions adhere to established statutory procedures.
In response to the developments, the INDIA bloc has announced a joint action plan, including rallies and “Save Democracy” marches, aimed at intensifying pressure on both the Election Commission and the government over the ongoing electoral roll revision. The delegation that met President Murmu included prominent figures such as Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby, and CPI leader D Raja, among others from various INDIA bloc parties.