ECI rejects Opposition MPs' demand for Parliament Annexe meeting

The Election Commission of India has rejected a demand by Opposition MPs to hold a meeting at Parliament Annexe, stating that such a request was "unusual" and "could not be accepted." The poll panel cited established protocol requiring meetings with political delegations to be conducted at its own premises.

The development emerged as the INDIA bloc, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, staged an over eight-hour 'dharna' on October 6, 2026. According to the ECI's official statement, no formal appointment request was received through official channels until around 4 p.m., when Delhi Police informed the commission that a delegation of MPs led by Gandhi wished to meet and submit a memorandum.

In response, the ECI offered to send its senior-most officer on duty to the proposed meeting venue to receive the memorandum from the MPs—a step the poll body characterized as "unprecedented." However, this offer was declined by the protesting leaders. The commission emphasized that its standard operating guidelines require political delegations to meet at ECI premises, and the alternative arrangement represented a departure from normal procedure.