Rahul Gandhi invited INDIA bloc MPs, activists, and student groups for tea at his residence on Tuesday. Sources said the meeting will focus on a joint protest strategy against the 'vote chori' row. Leaders also plan to discuss pressing for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during talks.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has invited INDIA bloc MPs, along with members of civil society and student organisations, for tea at his residence on Tuesday, sources said. They said a joint press conference by INDIA bloc leaders or a protest against 'vote chori' and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar could also take place.
According to sources, the meeting at Gandhi's 5, Sunehri Bagh Road residence is also expected to include discussions on a joint protest strategy over the 'vote chori' charge and on pressing for the CEC's resignation. The move comes a day after the Opposition's protests on the issue reached the Supreme Court.
On Monday, Opposition leaders, joined by activists and civil society members, held a 'March for Democracy' on a heavily barricaded route in the national capital and filed a joint petition against SIR and alleged poll irregularities. The march drew a large crowd carrying flags and posters to central Delhi's Connaught Place.
Among those who joined the march were Rahul Gandhi and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, CPI's D Raja, CPI-M leader M A Baby, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and NCP-SCP leader Supriya Sule.
Protesters breached one barricade at Bhagwan Dass Road but were stopped at a second barricade on the same road. Senior INDIA bloc leaders later went to the Supreme Court to file their petition, which has made the Election Commission of India, the Chief Election Commissioner, and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi parties in the case.
The developments followed the Chief Justice of India declining a request to meet the Leaders of Opposition on the issue, saying the matter is sub judice. With Gandhi now calling INDIA bloc MPs and representatives of civil society and student groups for a meeting, the Opposition is expected to discuss its next steps on the 'vote chori' issue.