A delegation of 240 Opposition MPs led by Rahul Gandhi requested a meeting with the Election Commission of India (ECI), but the commission said the request was against its protocol. The BJP criticized Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of spreading falsehoods that the ECI publicly refuted.
ECI Statement on Meeting Request
The Election Commission issued a statement late Tuesday saying that the request from the Opposition delegation was not in line with ECI procedures. The body learned from the media that the MPs wished to meet the Commission. However, no formal appointment request had been received by 4 pm that day, according to the statement.
At around 4 pm, Delhi Police informed the ECI that a delegation led by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi intended to meet the Commission and submit a memorandum. The Commission’s 2025 protocol requires delegations to seek an appointment through an authorized representative to fix a mutually agreed time and place.
Since the proposed meeting was to take place with 240 MPs at the Parliament House Annexe, the ECI found the request unusual and declined it, explaining that meetings must be held only on the Election Commission’s premises.
Alternative Proposal and Opposition Decline
The commission offered to send its senior-most officer to receive the memorandum at the MPs’ venue — described as an unprecedented offer. However, the MPs declined this option, according to the statement.
The ECI reaffirmed its respect for parliamentary processes and protocols, noting that any political party can request a meeting, which will be scheduled at a suitable time. This is a regular practice upheld by the commission.
Opposition Detained During Protest
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other Congress leaders were detained while staging a dharna at Akashvani Bhavan for nearly eight hours. The Opposition demands the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, expressing concerns about the Special Intensive Revision exercise and transparency within the commission.
BJP Response: ‘EC Exposes Every Lie’
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party shared the ECI’s statement on X, accusing Rahul Gandhi of making repeated false claims regarding the commission. The BJP stated Rahul alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar makes decisions alone, but all three Election Commissioners have confirmed decisions are made collectively.
The BJP also highlighted that Rahul claimed he was not allowed to meet the ECI, but the ECI clarified no formal request was received and that Rahul was unwilling to follow the prescribed meeting procedure. The BJP emphasized that the commission exposed the truth behind each of Rahul’s assertions to the public.
