Rahul Gandhi says President Murmu sought proof of ‘election chori’ after INDIA bloc submits memorandum against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

INDIA bloc leaders on Friday met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and submitted a memorandum against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged "vote chori" (vote theft), and demanded that elections be held through ballot papers instead of EVMs.

The leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee, met the President to raise their concerns about the functioning of the Election Commission of India and to demand Kumar's resignation.

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According to Kharge and Gandhi, the President asked the opposition to provide evidence of the alleged vote theft.

'President did not deny this fact'

Gandhi said the opposition's memorandum to the President clearly stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Kumar have conspired to destroy Indian democracy.

He said the President in no way denied what the opposition said, accepted its statement and sought proof of "election chori."

Gandhi said after the meeting that the entire country knows that votes are being stolen. He alleged that Modi is the architect of it, and that Shah and Kumar are its implementers. "The President of India did not deny this fact today," he said.

Gandhi said the President has said that the opposition needs to show evidence.

'We are compiling evidence'

In a media briefing after the meeting, Kharge said the leaders had apprised the President of the agitation they launched four days ago over the alleged theft of votes. He said the contents of the memorandum would be circulated later.

Kharge said the leaders raised concerns about "vote chori" and what he called the serious mistakes made by Kumar. He alleged that votes are being stolen "right from his office".

He said the opposition has demanded that EVMs be done away with and that elections be conducted using ballot papers again. The President asked for evidence of the instances of vote theft, Kharge said. He said the opposition is compiling the evidence and will submit it, along with all other information required.

Kharge also said the leaders told the President that Modi and Shah are intent on destroying the country's democracy.

According to Kharge, the President listened carefully and said she would look into the matter thoroughly, speak to those concerned and decide on the appropriate next steps. He said the opposition left satisfied.

'We represent more than 60 per cent of people'

TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee said the opposition is united and strong after the meeting with the President. "We are together, we are very strong, we represent more than 60 pc of people," she said, according to PTI.

'This is what you call fear'

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the closure of metro stations while the leaders marched towards Rashtrapati Bhavan. "This is what you call fear," she said.

Delhi Police had asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to close entry and exit gates at 57 metro stations from 9 pm on October 9, citing the proposed protests, according to a letter dated October 8.

The meeting came hours after Gandhi told INDIA bloc MPs at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan that the government would fall if the opposition continued to push the way it has in the last three-four days. He said there is a "much deeper problem" than Kumar and that it requires the termination of the current government.

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At a meeting on September 30, the INDIA bloc finalised a joint action plan over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Kharge said the opposition would seek an appointment with the President and make a representation in the second week of October. He said all parties had agreed that elections should be held through ballot papers.

The opposition has been demanding Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the SIR. Kumar is also facing allegations of bypassing his two colleagues to alter Form 6, a key document to register as a voter.