INDIA bloc yet to get President’s appointment on ECI concerns

Opposition says it has agreed to trim its proposed delegation from 15 to 10 members; CPI(M) MP John Brittas receives response to petition on SIR controversy

Updated - October 08, 2026 07:23 am IST - NEW DELHI

Congress President and Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge speaks during a press conference after the INDIA bloc leaders. File | Photo Credit: ANI

The INDIA bloc’s request for an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu to apprise her of its concerns over the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) has so far drawn a blank. Opposition leaders had suggested that only a select delegation would meet the President, keeping in mind the protocol associated with the country’s highest constitutional office, and had conveyed multiple dates for the meeting. However, according to sources, they are yet to receive any response from the President’s office.

Keep track | CEC row LIVE: Rahul Gandhi’s ‘They cannot stop our will’ message after Jantar Mantar protest

According to sources, INDIA bloc leaders suggested that the meeting be scheduled on either October 7, 8 or 9, providing sufficient notice for senior leaders to travel to Delhi. They proposed a 15-member delegation, with one representative from each of the grouping’s top 15 constituent parties.

Sources said the President’s office had informally conveyed that the delegation should be limited to 10 members. The INDIA bloc leader coordinating with the President’s Secretariat said the Opposition had agreed to this condition as well, but had still not heard from Ms. Murmu’s office.

Meanwhile, a letter written by CPI(M) MP John Brittas to President Murmu on September 23 seeking urgent constitutional intervention in the ECI’s special intensive revision (SIR) exercise, received a response on Wednesday.

In his letter, Mr. Brittas had sought the President’s intervention on the SIR controversy, the unhindered progress of the pending proceedings for the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner, and the Union government’s support before the Supreme Court for declaring the SIR “void ab initio” and annulling it.

On Wednesday (October 7, 2026), the President’s Secretariat forwarded the petition to the Legislative Department and marked a copy to Mr. Brittas, describing the petition as “self-explanatory” and directing that the action taken be communicated to him.

“The petition is self-explanatory. The constitutional questions it raises cannot be wished away. The only appropriate course now is for Gyanesh Kumar to quit forthwith,” Mr. Brittas said.

Published - October 07, 2026 09:50 pm IST

politics / Election Commission of India / national government

Terms & conditions | Institutional Subscriber

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.