Rahul Gandhi’s ‘she did not deny’ update after Opposition meets President on EC

Rahul Gandhi's 'she did not deny' update after Opposition meets President on EC Over the past three days, the Opposition has stepped up its campaign against the Chief Election Commissioner through protests that have led to dramatic scenes in the national capital.

Key points

• 5 min readOct 10, 2026 04: 30 AM IST First published on: Oct 9, 2026 at 02: 43 PM IST.
• We remarked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar have conspired to destroy Indian democracy.
• A police conspiracy probe Sweeping curbs have kicked in ahead of tomorrow's Cockroach Janta Party-All India Students' Association protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
• 30 heading to Delhi for CJP protest taken off trains and detained by Madhya Pradesh police Police say those intercepted are from Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
• Other members of the delegation are Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, the RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, and CPM's MA Baby.

INDIA bloc leaders at Vijay Chowk, New Delhi after session the President of India. (Express Photo by Abhinav Saha). Written by: Asad Rehman.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi remarked Thursday night that President Droupadi Murmu did not deny Opposition MPs' charge concerning 'vote chori ' and irregularities in the Election Commission's handling of the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls.

Speaking to reporters outside Rashtrapati Bhavan – after a almost hour-long gathering between a delegation that included Gandhi and Trinamool boss Mamata Banerjee and the President – the Congress leader noted: "We took a memorandum to the President. We remarked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar have conspired to destroy Indian democracy. The president in no way denied what we remarked."

"(She) in no way questioned what we remarked. And in no way argued what we stated. She accepted our statement and then remarked we need to bring her proof."

"I remarked the proof of 'vote chori' is known to the whole country. State after state has been stolen. 24 elections have been stolen. Yet, the President wants proof. For context, the same group of individuals will take proof when she is ready to accept it."

"I projected the President of India to deny that 'vote chori' is taking place. I projected the President to say 'India has free and fair elections', " he stated.

Other members of the delegation are Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, the RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, and CPM's MA Baby. Earlier, INDIA bloc sources remarked that if they did not secure an appointment with the President, they would protest outside Rashtrapati Bhavan. Full Coverage: CJP's October 10 Delhi Protest.

In practice, the session late Thursday came after three consecutive days of street-level protests by the Opposition coalition, starting with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's nine-hour sit-in protest at Akashvani Bhavan on Tuesday. 4 days, 4 protests.

On Tuesday, the INDIA bloc's march to the Election Commission was blocked. But a surprise sit-in by Rahul Gandhi and his sister and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at Akashvani Bhavan continued a twist.

For context, the next day, an INDIA bloc lunch at Sagar Ratna in Janpath became a prelude to a Jantar Mantar march. Both protests concluded with the detention of Opposition leaders, but caught national attention. On Thursday too, INDIA bloc leaders met for lunch – this time at Connaught Place's Moets – and were then bussed to Rajghat, keeping up the tempo.

Rahul Gandhi and INDIA bloc MPs sit in silent protest at Raj Ghat over demands that CEC Gyanesh Kumar resign. As a week of the Opposition's agitation on the streets of the national capital draws to a close, and now, their session with the President will add another headline. A build-up to CJP protest.

Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc's four-day protest streak is additionally significant as it comes in the run-up to the Cockroach Janta Party's protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. During the paper leak protests in July, the CJP and Jantar Mantar grabbed national spotlight, and the Opposition was forced to play catch-up as the agitation reached a scale few projected.

This time, Congress and its allies have staged back-to-back protests against the Election Commission in run-up to the CJP gathering. The consecutive marches have built momentum as the CJP protest approaches, and the Opposition has additionally scored some political points.

Notably, the Congress has distanced itself from CJP activities, saying that it raised problems like paper leaks and election matters long before CJP. Tomorrow, Rahul Gandhi will be in Chennai for a ' Chhatron ki Goonj ' gathering and Congress leaders will probable skip the Jantar Mantar protest. Other INDIA bloc members, nevertheless, may produce an appearance.

Notably, the Opposition's session with the President is on a day when Delhi is being turned into a fortress ahead of the CJP protest. Trains have been cancelled, Metro stations shut, and hotels asked not to lodge visitors who appear suspicious.

In fact, voices from the Opposition have triggered concern over Delhi Police's plan for tomorrow.

"Super! First they shut down Delhi Metro services, now they hv cancelled Delhi-bound trains-all to stop individuals from reaching the capital. These individuals believe they can throttle legitimate protest by choking every route of entry. List out every step they've taken.including the internet shutdowns. These repeated, heavy handed measures are nothing short of a systematic assault on people's civil liberties, " CPM's John Brittas remarked on X. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, additionally a Rajya Sabha MP, has raised the matter in the Supreme Court too.

For context, the CJP-AISA protest in Delhi: Date, time, place, Uber and Delhi Metro restrictions CJP Protest in Delhi date, timings, place: The Cockroach Janta Party has called a protest at Jantar Mantar on 10 October demanding the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar Read the full story →.

Mobile internet blackout in central Delhi from tonight for anti-EC stir Delhi Police and the central administration have rolled out a multi-level security blanket over the national capital. Read the full story →.

Delhi Police's 37-point dragnet to block CJP protests: In graphics Trains cancelled, 60 metro stations closed, and hotel bookings restricted: Delhi Police have activated a 37-point dragnet throughout the national capital to prevent Saturday's Jantar Mantar demonstration against alleged voter roll irregularities. Here is how the security clampdown will impact commuters and visitors throughout the city. Read the full story →.

> 'Can't employ hammer to kill fly': Supreme Court on Delhi EC protest curbs "We are mainly concerned about the complete closure of metro station entries; we have serious concerns about this, " the Supreme Court stated. Read the full story →.

Uttar Pradesh is the next major battle. Will Jantar Mantar 2.0 have a say? Outcome of UP poll could have impact on national politics, and may be influenced by the CJP-led protest. Read the full story →.

25% of daily ridership at stake: Why SC's Delhi Metro directive offers relief to lakhs of commuters The court pressed "proportionate" measures, underscoring the potential impact of widespread closures on a transport network that carries millions of passenger journeys every day. Read the full story →.

Permission denied, notes Delhi Police for CJP Jantar Mantar protest tomorrow Delhi Police denied permission for a Cockroach Janta Party protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar, citing rule violations and BNSS Section 163 prohibitory orders. Read the full story →.

For context, a poster saying 'Jantar Mantar Chalo'. A detention. A police conspiracy probe Sweeping curbs have kicked in ahead of tomorrow's Cockroach Janta Party-All India Students' Association protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Read the full story →.

Delhi CJP Protest: Trains to New Delhi, Nizamuddin cancelled tomorrow between 4 am – 2 pm Delhi train cancellation: Indian Railways has cancelled all mails and express trains to and from New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations for 10 hours on October 10 against the backdrop of a CJP protest. Read the full story →.

Trains, metros, Uber, Oyo and stadiums: The crackdown for Delhi CJP October 10 protest The Delhi Police has not granted permission for the CJP-AISA protest against the Chief Election Commissioner, citing prohibitory orders under Section 163 Read the full story →.

Car checks, eye on food orders & hotels: Noida, Faridabad on alert for CJP protest Police in both cities have stepped up deployment and set up checkposts along the border to Delhi. Read the full story →.

'How plenty of trains can be ceased?' BJP ally Chirag Paswan on Delhi's EC protest shutdown "The youth of India has the capacity to show the way to the world. They have been doing so generation after generation; no one can stop them, " remarked the Union minister Read the full story →.

Sign a bond, skip Delhi: Maharashtra police warn would-be protesters against Oct 10 agitation A day before the Cockroach Janata Party's Jantar Mantar protest, activists in Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur and Pune say police came to their homes, called them on trains and detained some. The DGP's office admits issuing notices but denies any detentions. Read the full story →.

30 heading to Delhi for CJP protest taken off trains and detained by Madhya Pradesh police Police say those intercepted are from Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. They are being counselled and informed to return home Read the full story →.

Taken together, the developments around rahul Gandhi's 'she did not deny' update after Opposition meets President on point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.