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Rahul Gandhi Signals Supreme Court Move After Meeting President Over ‘Vote Theft’ Allegations

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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.

RBI Likely to Hold Rates Amid Inflation Concerns, Focus Shifts to Global Trends

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As the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meets from October 7-9, experts are predicting that the central bank will maintain the current policy rates. The decision is expected to be influenced by persistent inflationary pressures and uncertainties in the global economic landscape. While the U.S. Federal Reserve has recently cut rates, signaling a potential easing cycle, the RBI is likely to adopt a cautious stance, prioritizing inflation control over rate cuts, according to analysts.

The primary factor guiding the MPC’s expected decision to maintain the status quo is the central bank’s ongoing battle against inflation. Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation, which remains above the RBI’s 4% target, has seen fluctuations largely driven by food price volatility. This has led policymakers to tread carefully, avoiding premature rate cuts that could reignite inflation.

Ajit Banerjee, President and Chief Investment Officer at Shriram Life Insurance, noted that the RBI will likely wait until it is certain that inflation has been durably controlled. “The committee is expected to hold rates steady until there’s clear evidence that inflation, especially food-driven spikes, are less of a threat,” he explained.

India’s GDP growth, while not alarmingly low, has been moderate. The first quarter’s 6.7% growth was influenced by a slowdown in government investment, mainly due to election-related factors. With government capital expenditure resuming in the second quarter, GDP growth is expected to align with RBI’s earlier projections. However, experts say the domestic growth trajectory doesn’t warrant urgent rate cuts at this stage.

Mandar Pitale, Head of Treasury at SBM Bank India, pointed out that while growth remains robust, the MPC will likely stay cautious. “Strong GDP growth numbers in India reduce the immediate pressure on the RBI to cut rates. The focus is more on ensuring that inflation stabilizes over the long term,” Pitale added.

Global Economic Uncertainty and Fed Influence

The global economic environment also weighs heavily on the MPC’s deliberations. Recent rate actions by developed economies, particularly the Federal Reserve, have added complexity to the RBI’s decision-making process. While the Fed’s rate cut could suggest a global trend toward monetary easing, the MPC is expected to be wary of following suit too quickly.

Pitale highlighted that global factors, such as inflation trends in developed markets and the Fed’s forward guidance on rates, would play a critical role in the committee’s discussions. “The RBI is aware of the nonlinear guidance coming from global central banks, which creates uncertainties about the future direction of monetary policy globally,” he said.

While no immediate rate cuts are expected, the tone of RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das’s commentary could signal future policy direction. A dovish shift, with hints of a more neutral stance, may emerge if inflation moderates in the coming months. However, the reconstitution of the MPC, with three new external members, makes a drastic policy shift unlikely in this meeting.

Banerjee suggested that while significant changes in this meeting are improbable, a dovish tone could set the stage for future rate cuts, provided inflation eases. “A shift in the MPC’s stance isn’t entirely off the table, but the immediate focus remains on inflation management,” he said.

The RBI’s decision to maintain its restrictive policy is a calculated move to ensure inflation is brought under control, aligning with its long-term target. As global economic dynamics remain uncertain and domestic inflation continues to challenge policy stability, the central bank is likely to hold off on any major policy shifts in the near term.

In the coming months, both domestic inflation trends and global economic factors will determine whether the RBI begins to ease its policy stance. For now, the central bank seems set on a cautious, wait-and-watch approach.