As the INDIA bloc, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, sat on a more than eight-hour ‘dharna’ on Tuesday (October 6, 2026), the Election Commission of India (ECI) said that the Opposition parties had demanded a meeting with the full Commission at a venue outside the ECI premises, which was “unusual” and therefore “could not be accepted”.
However, this offer was also declined by the protesting leaders.
The ECI said it had offered to send its senior-most officer on duty to the proposed meeting venue to receive the memorandum of the MPs, which in itself would have been an “unprecedented” step.
In an official statement issued after Mr. Under the procedure, whenever a delegation of a political party or a joint delegation of several parties wishes to meet the Commission, it seeks an appointment through its duly authorised representative. Gandhi was detained from his protest site inside Akashvani Bhavan, the headquarters of All India Radio in the national capital, the poll body said it had learnt through the media till 4 p.m. that some Members of Parliament wished to meet the Commission along with their delegation during a march by certain political parties towards the ECI. Following this, when the Election Commission was considering the request, it was informed by the DCP, Delhi Police, that the delegation comprised 240 MPs and that the proposed venue was the Parliament House Annexe. The poll body also clarified that it had received no request from any political party for a meeting beforehand, and had intimated about it by the Delhi Police at around 4 pm. Earlier reporting noted: The poll body’s statement comes after over 300 Opposition MPs of the INDIA bloc began a march from Parliament Complex to the Election Commission office, in a bid to meet with the Election Commissioners and hand over a formal memorandum to them.
“With regard to today’s developments, it is clarified that, till 4.00 p.m. today, no political party, through its representatives, had sought an appointment for a meeting with the Election Commission,” it said. “The Election Commission considered this request as unusual and therefore, could not be accepted, as, in accordance with ECI protocol, such meetings are held only on the premises of the Election Commission of India,” the statement said. The meeting is thereafter held at a time mutually agreed upon, the ECI said. Earlier reporting noted: ‘240 MPs at Parliament Annexe unusual and unacceptable’: Why ECI rejected meeting with Opposition MPs The Election Commission of India on Tuesday rejected a meeting proposal with Opposition MPs, citing their demands as “unusual and unacceptable”.
All political parties had been informed of the same. The statement further said that in 2025, the ECI had laid down a procedure for meetings with political parties.
The ECI said it instead offered to send its senior-most officer on duty to receive the memorandum, but the offer was rejected by the Opposition MPs.
