Election Commission rejects Rahul Gandhi-led MPs' meeting request amid SIR row, says 2025 procedure must be followed

The Election Commission of India on Tuesday turned down a request to meet a delegation of 240 Opposition MPs, led by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, at the Parliament House Annexe. The poll body said no political party had formally sought a meeting by 4 pm and that such meetings are held only at its own premises.

The decision came on a day of protests in the national capital. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra among 250 others were detained by Delhi Police during a march against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Also read: Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Vadra detained by police amid protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Akashvani Bhawan

In a press note, the Commission said it learnt through media reports during the day that some MPs and their delegations wished to meet it. It clarified that, as of 4 pm, no party had formally requested a meeting through its representatives.

Around 4 pm, Delhi Police informed the Commission that a delegation of MPs led by Rahul Gandhi wished to meet it to submit a memorandum. The Commission said the meeting sought was with a group of 240 MPs at the Parliament House Annexe. It called the request unusual and said it could not be accepted, as such meetings are held at the Commission's premises under protocol.

The Commission said it had set out a procedure in 2025 for meetings with political parties. Under it, a party or a joint delegation seeks time through its authorised representative, and the meeting is held at a mutually agreed time.

It said it then offered to send its senior-most serving officer to the venue to receive the memorandum, which it described as an unprecedented step in itself. The MPs also declined this offer, the Commission said. It added that any party can seek a meeting at any time and that it fixes the date and time according to its convenience.

Also read: Protests erupt across India demanding resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over voter list manipulation

Pawan Khera, KC Venugopal and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring were also among the Congress leaders detained by Delhi Police. Earlier in the day, police detained several Youth Congress and NSUI leaders, including IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib, outside Akashvani Bhawan.

Congress leaders staged a sit-in at Akashvani Bhawan after leaders of several INDIA bloc parties were stopped during a march to Nirvachan Sadan. The protest is part of a broader "Save Democracy" campaign announced by the Opposition, under which its leaders have been holding demonstrations and public programmes against the Election Commission.