A delegation representing the INDIA opposition bloc is set to meet President Droupadi Murmu on Friday at 8:00 PM to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The President's Secretariat confirmed the appointment on Friday morning. The 10-member delegation intends to present their grievances directly to the head of state, focusing on allegations surrounding electoral conduct and calling for the election chief to step down immediately.
Key Opposition Leaders in the Delegation
The visiting delegation comprises high-profile leaders across several regional and national parties. Among those confirmed to attend are Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and All India Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee. They will be joined by Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Supriya Sule, and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader M A Baby. The Samajwadi Party will be represented by Member of Parliament Rajeev Rai. Consultations continue among alliance members to finalize the remaining participants of the 10-member team. The opposition had formally sought an audience on October 2, following which Rashtrapati Bhavan requested the finalized list of attendees.
Absence of Akhilesh Yadav and Uddhav Thackeray
Two prominent opposition figures will not participate in the Rashtrapati Bhavan meeting. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray have decided against traveling to the national capital. The Samajwadi Party clarified that Akhilesh Yadav cannot attend because the death anniversary of Mulayam Singh Yadav falls on Saturday, requiring his presence elsewhere. Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray cited ongoing drought relief issues in Maharashtra alongside pre-committed local engagements as the reasons for his absence, prompting both parties to designate other leaders to represent them in the delegation.
Sustained Protests from Central Hall to Rajghat
Ahead of their evening meeting with the President, opposition leaders scheduled a gathering at 5:00 PM inside the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan to organize an additional demonstration against Gyanesh Kumar. Lawmakers from the alliance have staged continuous protests in New Delhi over the past three days, demanding his resignation over allegations of vote theft. The demonstration gained momentum on Thursday when alliance members held a sit-in protest at Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, marking their third consecutive day of agitation. The leaders have affirmed that their campaign will persist until the Chief Election Commissioner tenders his resignation.
