Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said President Droupadi Murmu had asked opposition leaders to provide evidence for their allegations of “vote chori” (vote theft) after a delegation of INDIA bloc leaders met her on Friday to raise concerns about alleged electoral irregularities and the functioning of the Election Commission.

The delegation, which included Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, submitted a memorandum at Rashtrapati Bhavan alleging attempts to undermine Indian democracy. The opposition has been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and has criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Kumar were conspiring to undermine Indian democracy.

“We submitted a memorandum to the President of India, informing her that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar are conspiring to destroy Indian democracy,” Gandhi said.

He said Murmu had asked the delegation to substantiate its claims and that the opposition would submit supporting material when she was available.

“She asked us to provide evidence to substantiate what we have said. We will submit the evidence to her whenever she is available,” he said.

Gandhi described the meeting as satisfactory, adding that the President had neither rejected nor questioned the delegation’s submissions. He also announced that opposition leaders would approach the Supreme Court on Monday with a memorandum addressed to the Chief Justice of India.

Kharge Demands Ballot Papers Instead of EVMs

Kharge said the President had listened patiently to the delegation and was briefed on the opposition’s protests over alleged electoral irregularities.

“Leaders from our alliance met the President and submitted a memorandum. We apprised the President of the agitation we launched four days ago regarding the theft of votes,” he said.

Kharge alleged serious lapses in the functioning of the Election Commission and criticised Kumar. He also demanded that electronic voting machines (EVMs) be set aside and elections be conducted using ballot papers.

“We underlined the issue of vote theft and the grave error committed by Gyanesh Kumar. We demanded that EVMs be set aside and elections be conducted using ballot papers,” he said.

The opposition’s allegations have centred on the Election Commission’s conduct, the revision of electoral rolls and what opposition parties describe as irregularities in the electoral process. The allegations remain claims made by the opposition, rather than established findings.

Mamata Banerjee Says President Will Examine Details

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the delegation had submitted a memorandum and that the President had indicated she would examine the details and required evidence.

“We have submitted a memorandum. We have seen from a positive outlook that she said she will investigate; she will go through the details, and she needs evidence,” Banerjee said.

She added that the delegation had agreed to provide the requested material and urged the President to protect democratic institutions.

“She has asked us to send evidence, which we said we will do. The country is very concerned, and you, as a custodian of the Constitution, should take proper care so the democracy remains,” she said.

The delegation included Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule, CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby, RJD Rajya Sabha member Manoj Kumar Jha, CPI general secretary D. Raja, Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai and VCK president Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan.

The meeting followed several days of opposition protests targeting the Election Commission and Kumar. The next steps include the submission of evidence to the President and the proposed approach to the Supreme Court on Monday.

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— Congress (@INCIndia) October 9, 2026