INDIA bloc plans march as presidential meeting remains pending

The INDIA bloc planned to continue its protest on Friday, October 9, with leaders expected to march towards Rashtrapati Bhavan and press their demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. The proposed march was reported as a plan; the supplied reports did not confirm whether it took place. The opposition parties were also seeking a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu. Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal said the bloc first requested an appointment on October 2 and resubmitted its request with the names of attendees on October 5, seeking a meeting on October 7, 8 or 9. He said that by October 8, the group had received no response and would wait until Friday. Reports said INDIA bloc MPs were due to meet at Samvidhan Sadan at 3 p.m. on Friday before considering further protest action. The bloc’s plans included a march towards the President’s residence, although accounts differed on details such as the proposed delegation. The meeting request remained pending in the reported information. The planned action followed several days of demonstrations over the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of electoral rolls.