President Droupadi Murmu meets a delegation of INDIA alliance consisting of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, and others, and accepts a memorandum over 'voter chori' issue, in New Delhi, on Friday (October 9).
LIVE: President asked us to submit 'vote chori' proof, says Rahul
Delhi borders likely to be sealed amid unprecedented security; Internet in 4-km radius of Jantar Mantar suspended from 10 pm on October 9 to 10 pm on October 10
A delegation of INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, met President Droupadi Murmu on Friday evening (October 9) and submitted a memorandum on "vote chori" (vote theft) issue and also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Besides Kharge, Rahul and Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, NCP(SP)'s Supriya Sule, RJD's Manoj Jha, VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan, IUML's E T Mohammed Basheer, CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby, CPI's D Raja were among those who were part of the 10-member delegation.
Also read: If Opposition keeps up the push the same way, Modi govt will fall soon: Rahul
Carrying a big "Save Democracy" banner, INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament House to Rashtrapati Bhavan, but they were stopped at Vijay Chowk by the police, who had put up barricades.
"We handed our memorandum to the President listing our concerns of election chori and vote chori. The President did not deny vote chori, but the President asked us to bring her proof of vote chori. We will bring the proof to her. I thank her from my heart," Rahul said after meeting President Murmu.
Earlier, the INDIA bloc MPs met at the Central Hall of the Parliament and deliberated upon their strategy to take forward their plan for agitation against "vote chori" and press for CEC Kumar's ouster.
Security stepped up in Delhi; internet suspended
Meanwhile, security has been stepped up at the borders connecting Noida with Delhi, with police personnel and Border Security Force (BSF) jawans deployed at key points ahead of a major protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in the national capital on Saturday (October 10). The protest has been called to demand the resignation of CEC Kumar amid allegations of irregularities in election-related processes.
Also read: Delhi-bound train cancellations leave UP passengers in a fix
Internet services will be suspended within a 4-kilometre radius of Jantar Mantar from 10 pm on October 9 to 10 pm on October 10. The suspension will apply to all mobile internet services. Internet services in the rest of Delhi will remain unaffected.
At the Chilla border, personnel from the Noida and Delhi police, along with BSF jawans, have been deployed as part of heightened security arrangements.
Police teams have begun checking suspicious vehicles and questioning people as needed, officials said.
Security personnel are keeping a close watch on buses, taxis and private cars entering Delhi from Noida. Police are stopping vehicles for checks as part of efforts to prevent any untoward incident during the protest.
Security personnel have also placed reinforced concrete (RCC) barriers at the border to strengthen security. Police might seal the border around 9 pm on Friday, though an official confirmation of the proposed measure was not immediately available. Several social organisations, members of farmers' unions and leaders of some political parties in Noida have alleged that police have placed them under house arrest ahead of the protest.
SC slams Centre on Metro curbs
Supreme Court on Friday questioned the Centre over unprecedented curbs announced in the national capital ahead of the planned protest by the CJP on Saturday. It was particularly critical of the closure of Metro rail services planned to prevent the arrival of protesters.
"Young people, elderly all travel. Commuters have a right to basic facilities," the court told the Centre's lawyer, asking for the number of closed Metro stations to be brought down. The court made these observations while hearing a petition against closures of metro stations and cancellation of trains by CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby.
Earlier, Delhi Police denied permission for the CJP to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar over the accountability of CEC Kumar, citing short notice and previous violations of police directions.
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Live Updates
- 9 Oct 2026 7:45 PM IST
INDIA bloc MPs march to Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet President
INDIA bloc MPs march to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
- 9 Oct 2026 7:37 PM IST
INDIA bloc MPs to march to Rashtrapati Bhawan to meet President at 8 PM
Opposition INDIA alliance's MPs have decided to march from Parliament House to Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu has agreed to meet a delegation of only 10 Opposition leaders at 8 PM. The delegation will request her to speak to all Opposition MPs. Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, MA Baby, Mamata Banerjee, Supriya Sule will be part of the delegation.
- 9 Oct 2026 7:33 PM IST
Govt afraid of people: Kapil Sibal slams curbs ahead of Delhi protest
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Friday lashed out at the Modi government over the unprecedented security clampdown in the national capital ahead of the October 10 CJP-led protest, saying the way the government has conducted itself shows how afraid it is of the people who wish to protest against its policies.
Sibal, who earlier in the day led a battery of senior lawyers for a plea against the closure of 57 metro stations and cancellation of trains to Delhi in view of the protest on Saturday, said he is very concerned about the manner in which this government is dealing with the situation of people wanting to peacefully protest at Jantar Mantar .
"As you know, Jantar Mantar is a designated site where you can protest, and the first question I ask myself is: how does the government prohibit people to protest at the designated site when you have given no access to that designated site because you have cordoned it off so people can't reach that designated site, and yet this is the designated site you have earmarked to protest?" Sibal said at a press conference here.
"I personally think that the way in which the government has conducted itself shows how afraid this government is of the people of this country, or the young people of this country, the citizens of this country who wish to protest against the policies of the government," Sibal said.
- 9 Oct 2026 7:31 PM IST
Ahead of meeting President, Rahul Gandhi invokes Nehru
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi invokes Nehru at Parliament's Central Hall.
- 9 Oct 2026 7:04 PM IST
Internet services to be suspended within 4-km radius around Jantar Mantar in Delhi from 10 PM
Internet services will be suspended within a 4-km radius around Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Services will remain suspended from 10 PM on October 9 to 10 PM on October 10.
- 9 Oct 2026 6:48 PM IST
SC asks Centre to consider alternative venue to Jantar Mantar for protests in Delhi
The Supreme Court on Friday (October 9) asked the government to consider designating an alternative venue to Jantar Mantar for peaceful protests in the national capital.
The top court emphasised the need for a site equipped with basic amenities for demonstrators while hearing a plea challenging proposed restrictions on metro stations and the cancellation of trains arriving in the national capital in view of a protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and certain student organisations against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana observed this after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the competent authority would consider identifying a location other than Jantar Mantar for holding peaceful protests.
The top law officer urged the bench to record the submission in its order and informed the bench that senior advocate Kapil Sibal was also agreeable to the suggestion.
"During the course of hearing, it was also suggested, and learned senior counsel/counsel for parties are ad idem that it's high time that some suitable place where all basic amenities can be provided for peaceful and lawful protestors needs to be identified and designated. Let the competent authority consider the suggestion and take an appropriate decision," the Bench said.
During the proceedings, the bench was informed that police had denied permission to the CJP and the Indian Youth Congress to hold demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site.
- 9 Oct 2026 6:38 PM IST
Kharge: We will explain to President about 'errors committed' by Gyanesh Kumar
On Delhi Metro stations being shut down and train services cancelled over tomorrow's protests in the national capital, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "They are afraid, and a man who lives in fear is bound to meet his end sooner or later (jo aadmi darta hai, aaj ya kal marta hai)..."
He added, "The reason we are going to meet the President is because of the errors committed by Gyanesh Kumar; he has created a situation across the country that seems to put democracy itself at risk. We are going to explain all these matters..."
- 9 Oct 2026 6:27 PM IST
INDIA bloc MPs at Central Hall of Parliament before meeting President
Opposition INDIA alliance's MPs have assembled at the Central Hall of Parliament ahead of their meeting with the President.
- 9 Oct 2026 6:23 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi arrives at Parliament
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi arrives at Parliament.
- 9 Oct 2026 6:15 PM IST
INDIA bloc leaders arrive at Parliament to meet President
INDIA bloc leaders arrive at Parliament to protest and submit a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu. They will raise their concerns regarding the functioning of the Election Commission of India (EC).
