INDIA bloc lunch at Kharge's: Congress vows 'do-or-die' fight over CEC row
Synopsis
For the second day running, the INDIA bloc gathered over lunch at Mallikarjun Kharge's invitation — but the meal is a sideshow. The real story is a rapidly escalating constitutional standoff: an FIR against the Leader of Opposition, allegations of 40,000 police deployed against 200 MPs, and a formal request to the President to intervene. The Opposition has drawn a hard line — no end to protests until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns.
Key Takeaways
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hosted INDIA bloc leaders for lunch in New Delhi on 8 October 2026 , for the second consecutive day.
The Opposition is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar , alleging a compromise in the Election Commission's credibility.
An FIR has been registered against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over alleged assault and misbehaviour with security personnel during protests — an allegation Congress leaders have denied.
The INDIA bloc sent a formal request to President Droupadi Murmu for a meeting on 2 October ; the Rashtrapati Bhavan has asked for a list of attending leaders.
Sandosh Kumar alleged that more than 40,000 police personnel were deployed at Jantar Mantar to prevent roughly 200–240 Opposition MPs from protesting.
Congress leaders have pledged the agitation will continue until Gyanesh Kumar resigns, with another protest expected to follow Thursday's lunch.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hosted a lunch for INDIA bloc leaders in New Delhi on Thursday, 8 October 2026, for the second consecutive day, as the Opposition alliance deepened its campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Congress framed the mobilisation as a 'do-or-die fight' to protect democracy and voters across the country.
What the Opposition Said
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal addressed reporters after the lunch, describing the ongoing agitation as an existential battle for democratic values. 'We are here to protect democracy. That's what we are doing. This is a do-or-die fight for us to protect the voters and the common people of this country,' he said.
Venugopal confirmed that the INDIA bloc had formally written to President Droupadi Murmu requesting a meeting, with the first communication sent on 2 October. He added that the Rashtrapati Bhavan had subsequently asked the Opposition to submit a list of leaders who would attend the proposed meeting.
FIR Against Rahul Gandhi and Police Action Allegations
A significant flashpoint in the ongoing standoff has been the First Information Report (FIR) registered against Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over allegations of assault and misbehaviour with security personnel. Congress leaders roundly rejected the allegations.
Venugopal alleged that the Delhi Police had deployed overwhelming force against peaceful demonstrators at Jantar Mantar. 'Rahul Gandhi was sitting with only five MPs. We wanted to protest, and we were asking to be given a place where we can protest. They deployed the entire Delhi Police yesterday,' he said.
Congress MP Vivek Tankha argued that any physical contact during the protest was an act of self-defence and therefore not culpable under law. 'Rahul and Priyanka can never misbehave with security forces. This is unbelievable. When something is done in defence, it does not constitute an offence,' he said, alleging the FIR was registered with 'bad intention.'
Access to Election Commission Denied, Leaders Allege
Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda said Opposition leaders had been prevented from meeting Election Commissioners even though they are elected public representatives. He alleged that the protesters were subsequently barred from staging a dharna at Jantar Mantar — the designated protest site in the capital.
CPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar claimed that more than 40,000 police personnel had been deployed against a group of approximately 200 to 240 Opposition MPs and supporters at Jantar Mantar. 'The point is, Jantar Mantar is the only place in Delhi where we can register our protest. But it has been completely closed,' he said.
Opposition's Broader Demands and Strategy
Congress MP Jebi Mather made clear that the agitation would not be deterred by the lunch meetings or other logistical considerations. 'Lunch or no lunch, even if we eat or do not eat, the protest will continue... We will continue our protest until Gyanesh Kumar resigns,' she said, naming Rahul Gandhi, Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the leaders guiding the movement.
Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Kumar Rai also reaffirmed his party's solidarity, stating simply: 'Samajwadi Party is with them in this fight.' The lunch was expected to be followed by a coordinated protest action, according to sources.
What Comes Next
The INDIA bloc's request for a meeting with President Murmu remains pending, with the Rashtrapati Bhavan having asked for a confirmed list of attendees. A broader street agitation strategy is reportedly being finalised by the senior leadership. The political standoff over the Election Commission's credibility shows no sign of resolution, with the Opposition pledging to escalate pressure until the Chief Election Commissioner steps down.
Point of View
Regardless of one's view on the underlying CEC controversy. The FIR against Rahul Gandhi follows a familiar pattern: each major Opposition street action in recent years has been met with legal action against its leaders, which itself becomes a political rallying point. What is new here is the formal escalation to the President — a constitutional signal that the Opposition believes the dispute has moved beyond parliamentary resolution. Whether President Murmu grants the meeting, and what happens after, will determine whether this standoff becomes a prolonged electoral-credibility crisis or a pressure release.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the INDIA bloc demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation?
The INDIA bloc has alleged that the Election Commission's credibility is compromised, calling for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation as a precondition for restoring public trust in the electoral process. The Opposition has not specified a single triggering incident publicly but has been protesting over what it describes as collusion between the ruling establishment and the Election Commission.
What is the FIR registered against Rahul Gandhi about?
An FIR was registered against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over allegations of assault and misbehaviour with security personnel during a protest. Congress leaders, including K.C. Venugopal and Vivek Tankha, have denied the allegations, arguing that any physical contact was in self-defence and therefore not an offence under law.
Has the INDIA bloc requested a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu?
Yes. The INDIA bloc sent its first formal request to President Droupadi Murmu for a meeting on 2 October 2026. The Rashtrapati Bhavan subsequently asked the Opposition to provide a confirmed list of leaders who would attend the proposed meeting.
Why were Opposition leaders prevented from protesting at Jantar Mantar?
According to INDIA bloc MPs, Delhi Police barred them from staging a dharna at Jantar Mantar — the designated protest ground in the capital — on the day preceding the Thursday lunch. CPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar claimed more than 40,000 police personnel were deployed to stop roughly 200–240 Opposition leaders. The government has not publicly responded to these specific figures.
Will the INDIA bloc protests continue beyond the lunch meetings?
Yes. Congress MP Jebi Mather explicitly stated that the agitation would continue regardless of the lunch meetings, and that protests would persist under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra until CEC Gyanesh Kumar steps down. A protest was expected to follow Thursday's lunch.
