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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hosts Opposition MPs for lunch at Sagar Ratna in New Delhi amid the escalating ‘vote chori’ row. (Images: X)
New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday hosted a lunch for Opposition MPs at Sagar Ratna on Janpath Road in New Delhi, a day after the INDIA bloc’s protest over the alleged “vote chori” issue and its demand for action concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
More than 60 MPs are learnt to have attended the lunch meeting, which came amid heightened Opposition activity against the Election Commission. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Congress general secretary K C Venugopal were among those who received the participating MPs.
According to sources, the lunch meeting provided an opportunity for Opposition MPs to discuss and shape their immediate strategy over the “vote chori” allegations. The Opposition has been seeking greater scrutiny of the electoral process and has stepped up its political campaign against the Election Commission, with the issue emerging as a major point of confrontation between the INDIA bloc and the government.
The MPs are also expected to discuss ways to intensify their campaign and coordinate their next steps.
Over 60 Opposition MPs attended the gathering at the South Indian restaurant. Leaders and MPs from parties including the Congress, Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party were present. After the lunch, MPs left the venue in buses and other vehicles. The gathering came shortly after a high-profile Opposition demonstration in the national capital, adding to the political activity surrounding the electoral controversy.
The lunch meeting followed Tuesday’s protest led by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who took centre stage during the INDIA bloc’s demonstration. According to Congress sources, the protest resulted in a major disruption around Parliament Street as Opposition MPs attempted to march towards the Election Commission’s office.
The demonstration continued for several hours with Rahul Gandhi eventually being detained after the protesters were stopped from proceeding towards the poll panel’s office.
Rahul Gandhi was released after 10 pm following around two hours in detention, according to the Congress. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal, TMC leader Derek O’Brien, Samajwadi Party MPs and other Opposition leaders were also detained during the protest. They were subsequently taken in different vehicles to various locations and released after a brief period.
The latest developments indicate that the Opposition is continuing its coordinated campaign over allegations related to the electoral process. With the lunch meeting taking place immediately after the street protest, opposition parties are now expected to focus on coordinating their political strategy and deciding the next phase of their campaign.
The Congress and its allies have maintained pressure on the Election Commission, while the political confrontation over electoral rolls, alleged irregularities and the role of the poll panel continues to intensify.
