CJI Surya Kant Rejects Opposition Leaders’ Meeting Request (Img: X)
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has declined a request by INDIA bloc leaders for a meeting to submit a representation over alleged “vote chori”.
In an email response to the opposition leaders, the CJI explained the reasons for turning down their request.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and his Rajya Sabha counterpart, Mallikarjun Kharge, had sought an appointment with the CJI between 4 pm and 5 pm on Monday. They intended to submit a memorandum demanding action over alleged electoral irregularities.
The opposition leaders’ request comes amid their campaign over alleged manipulation of electoral rolls and demands for accountability from the Election Commission.
Rahul Gandhi had announced that opposition parties, civil society groups and young people would march to the Supreme Court to press their demands.
The proposed march seeks the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a return to paper ballots.
The INDIA bloc has raised concerns over alleged “vote chori”, making electoral transparency and the revision of voter lists key issues in its campaign.
The decision to seek an appointment with the CJI came after INDIA bloc leaders met President Droupadi Murmu on Friday and submitted a memorandum listing four key demands. These included the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), cancellation of Assembly elections held over the past two years, suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and restoration of paper ballots. The opposition also called for the reinstatement of 13.30 crore voters allegedly deleted from electoral rolls.
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Following the meeting, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said he was surprised that Murmu had not rejected the opposition’s allegations of “vote chori” and had instead asked them to furnish evidence. “I was shocked that the President did not deny Vote Chori. Instead, she asked us to bring her proof. We will bring her a mountain of it,” he wrote on X.
