# Opposition Mounts Pressure in Delhi Seeking Removal of Chief Election Commissioner, Submits Memorandum to President

> The joint opposition met President Droupadi Murmu demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and a return to paper ballots, while condemning extensive Delhi Metro closures.

**Type:** article · **Category:** India · **Published:** 2026-10-09 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/national/mukhya-chunava-ayukta-ke-istiphe-ki-manga-para-vipaksha-ka-delhi-men-kara-rukha-president-se-milakara-rakhin-shikayaten-45643 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commission, Droupadi Murmu, Mamata Banerjee, Priyanka Gandhi, Delhi Metro

A sharp political confrontation erupted in the national capital on Friday as opposition parties intensified their collective campaign against the leadership of the Election Commission of India. Demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, senior figures from across the political spectrum staged demonstrations between the Parliament complex and Vijay Chowk. The opposition alleged sweeping discrepancies in the electoral process, subsequently sending a high-level delegation to Rashtrapati Bhavan to submit a formal memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu detailing their grievances.

Addressing reporters outside Parliament, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused the ruling establishment of evading action due to deep-seated anxiety over the public mood. Quoting the famous line spoken by the villain Gabbar Singh in the classic movie Sholay, Kharge remarked that anyone overcome by fear meets their end sooner or later. He asserted that the central administration appears entirely unwilling to remove the Chief Election Commissioner despite widespread discontent across the country.

## Claims of Internal Dissent Within Election Commission
Mallikarjun Kharge further asserted that the Chief Election Commissioner faced substantial pushback from within his own three-member panel. According to the Congress president, both Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, repeatedly raised objections against various administrative decisions made by Gyanesh Kumar. Kharge stated that despite these formal objections being placed on record on multiple occasions, the Chief Election Commissioner consistently declined to accommodate them.

Highlighting this alleged internal rift, Kharge questioned why the central government had failed to act on opposition demands when senior officials within the constitutional body were themselves reportedly expressing reservations. He stressed that ignoring such developments damages institutional credibility and undermines public confidence in upcoming democratic exercises.

## Delegation Presents Demands to President Droupadi Murmu
The delegation of opposition leaders met President Droupadi Murmu with a specific charter of demands, chief among them the removal of Gyanesh Kumar and systemic reforms in polling mechanisms. Following the meeting, Kharge explained that the opposition alliance had been protesting continuously for four days over alleged vote theft. The delegation briefed the President regarding their findings and requested intervention from the constitutional head of state.

Kharge noted that the leaders explicitly asked for the discontinuation of Electronic Voting Machines, advocating a return to traditional paper ballots for all elections. He stated that President Murmu listened to the representation and requested the opposition to submit concrete evidence backing their accusations of tampering and electoral malpractice. Kharge confirmed that legal and technical teams are currently assembling the relevant dossiers to submit to Rashtrapati Bhavan at the earliest.

## Reactions from Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi described the deliberations at Rashtrapati Bhavan as substantive. He noted that the President did not dismiss their memorandum out of hand and instead called for verified documentation to substantiate their claims. Reiterating previous allegations, Rahul Gandhi asserted that significant vote theft had occurred during the 2024 parliamentary elections as well. He added that the President conveyed her intent to review the materials and explore potential courses of action once the documentation is delivered.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also spoke to the press following the delegation's interaction, describing the President's demeanor as constructive. She emphasized that the President agreed to examine the specifics once the evidence is formally delivered. Banerjee remarked that as the custodian of the Constitution, the President carries a vital obligation to preserve democratic principles, adding that the INDIA alliance stands firmly united on the issue of electoral integrity.

## Controversy Surrounding Delhi Metro Closures
The opposition's mobilization in central Delhi coincided with severe public transport restrictions that quickly drew sharp criticism from political leaders. Authorities closed access to numerous transit hubs across the city, prompting allegations that administrative machinery was being weaponized to curb democratic demonstrations. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra strongly condemned the station shutdowns, describing the move as an outright display of administrative cowardice and fear.

Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan also criticized the government over the travel chaos, stating that 57 metro stations had been closed to commuters. She pointed out that shutting down key transit points caused severe disruption for thousands of working citizens trying to reach their workplaces, terming the administrative decision a total failure of governance and law enforcement.

## Widespread Leader Participation at Vijay Chowk
Prior to visiting the President, opposition leaders congregated at Vijay Chowk to raise slogans and coordinate their agitation against the Chief Election Commissioner. Prominent national figures marching together included Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

The demonstration also saw the participation of multiple serving chief ministers, including Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal, Omar Abdullah of Jammu and Kashmir, and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of Himachal Pradesh. Other prominent leaders attending the protest included Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Abhishek Banerjee, Bhupesh Baghel, and Kumari Selja, reflecting broad collective backing across regional and national parties.

## What this means for you
This significant political confrontation has direct implications for national electoral discourse as well as daily commuting in the capital.

- **Across India:** The debate surrounding the credibility of electoral machinery and the push for paper ballots has regained major political momentum. Opposition parties are preparing to escalate their institutional challenges through documented representations.
- **In Delhi:** The shutdown of dozens of metro stations during the protests caused immense disruption for thousands of office-goers and regular commuters. Heavy security cordons in central Delhi led to major detours and travel delays throughout the area.
- **For Voters:** Heightened scrutiny around electronic voting and vote counting could prompt greater civic interest in electoral safeguards. Observers and citizens will be closely monitoring how constitutional offices respond to the evidentiary dossiers promised by the opposition.
- **For Political Alliances:** The active participation of multiple chief ministers highlights united coordination among opposition factions against the central election authority. This signals ongoing legislative friction and public campaigns in the coming weeks.

## Why this happened
This political showdown stems from accumulated opposition grievances regarding the functioning of the Election Commission and suspected irregularities in recent polls. Leaders argue that internal administrative dissent was suppressed and democratic transparency compromised.

- **Dissent Over Commission Leadership:** Opposition leaders allege that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar overruled formal objections lodged by fellow election commissioners. This reported breakdown in panel consensus led directly to demands for his stepping down.
- **Questions Surrounding Voting Systems:** The alliance had already spent four consecutive days protesting alleged vote theft while raising doubts regarding the 2024 general election outcomes. These grievances culminated in the demand to replace Electronic Voting Machines with physical paper ballots.
- **Appeal to Constitutional Authority:** Claiming an absence of institutional accountability, opposition leaders approached President Droupadi Murmu as the custodian of constitutional governance. The President subsequently directed the delegation to place formal evidence on record for further examination.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Whose resignation did the opposition parties demand during their protest in Delhi?
The opposition parties staged protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

### 2. Which film dialogue did Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge reference?
Kharge quoted the famous line from the movie Sholay, saying anyone overcome by fear meets their end sooner or later.

### 3. What claim did Kharge make regarding the other two election commissioners?
Kharge claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally objected to decisions made by Gyanesh Kumar.

### 4. What did President Droupadi Murmu instruct the opposition delegation to do?
President Murmu heard the complaints and asked the delegation to submit concrete evidence supporting their allegations of electoral malpractice.

### 5. What demand did the opposition put forward concerning electronic voting machines?
The opposition demanded the withdrawal of Electronic Voting Machines in favor of holding elections via traditional paper ballots.

### 6. How did Priyanka Gandhi Vadra react to the closure of metro stations in Delhi?
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condemned the closures, describing them as a demonstration of cowardice and administrative fear.

### 7. How many metro stations were closed according to Ranjeet Ranjan?
Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan stated that 57 metro stations were being closed down during the protest.

### 8. Which chief ministers took part in the demonstration at Vijay Chowk?
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu attended.

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