INDIA bloc meets Murmu over alleged electoral irregularities

An INDIA bloc delegation met President Droupadi Murmu on October 9 and submitted a memorandum alleging irregularities in electoral rolls and “vote chori,” or election theft. The opposition alliance said it would provide evidence after Murmu asked for proof, according to Rahul Gandhi, who spoke after the meeting. The allegations have not been independently established in the material provided. The delegation included Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and other opposition leaders. The meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan followed days of protests over the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the bloc’s demand that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign. Gandhi said Murmu did not deny or question the bloc’s allegations and asked the leaders to provide evidence. He said the alliance would give her the material when she was ready to receive it. Banerjee described the meeting as positive and said Murmu had assured the leaders she would examine their concerns.