New Delhi, October 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday said that no political party or authorised representative had sought an appointment with the poll panel until 4 p.m., as Opposition MPs led by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi staged a prolonged protest demanding a meeting with the Commission.
The clarification came after the INDIA bloc’s march towards the ECI office was stopped by Delhi Police, following which Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Opposition leaders staged a sit-in at Akashvani Bhavan. The leaders were later detained and released the same night.
According to the ECI, Delhi Police informed the Commission at 4 p.m. that a team led by Rahul Gandhi wanted to submit a memorandum. The poll panel was subsequently informed that around 240 MPs wanted to meet the Commission at Parliament Annexe.
The ECI said it declined the proposed venue because its established protocol requires such meetings to be held at Nirvachan Sadan, its headquarters. The Commission instead offered to send its most senior official to receive the memorandum at the proposed venue, but the MPs did not accept the suggestion.
The poll panel said it respected parliamentary and democratic processes while also maintaining its established procedures and traditions.
The ECI said its procedure for meetings with political parties was established in 2025 and communicated to all parties. Under the process, a party or joint delegation seeking to meet the Commission is required to request an appointment through an authorised representative, following which a mutually convenient time is fixed.
The Opposition MPs had marched towards the ECI demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over allegations of “vote theft” and objections related to the electoral roll revision exercise.
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