Opposition Leaders Meet President To Press For Gyanesh Kumar's Resignation

A group of Opposition MPs led by Rahul Gandhi of the Congress started a march from Parliament to Rashtrapati Bhavan for a scheduled meeting of a group of 10 leaders with President Droupadi Murmu for their demand that Gyanesh Kumar resign as Chief Election Commissioner.

The march followed a meeting of 150 MPs of the INDIA bloc in the Central Hall of Parliament, where 16 leaders from 16 different parties signed the memorandum that will be submitted to the President, raising concerns over the functioning of the Election Commission of India (EC).

At the meeting, Gandhi said the Opposition's demonstrations over the past few days have "shaken the foundation of the government".

Speaking to reporters ahead of the march, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Kumar Jha, who is among the 10 leaders to meet the President, said, "The demand is the same as that of the entire country: to dismantle the entire structure of dishonesty, and Gyanesh Kumar is standing like a shield."

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, "All patriots are engaged in strengthening the country's democracy, regardless of whether they are members of any political party or not... I salute all the patriots who have come to the streets."

The youth movement Cockroach Janta Party, which forced the education minister's resignation in July over paper leaks, has called for a protest at Jantar Mantar in the heart of Delhi on October 10.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of acting out of fear, while referring to the closure of metro stations and cancellation of train services in light of the Jantar Mantar protest call. "A person who is afraid will die tomorrow, if not today," he said.

“The mistakes committed by Gyanesh Kumar have created a situation of fear in the country and put democracy in danger. That is why we are going to meet the President and apprise her of the things he has done,” Kharge told reporters.