30 Opposition MPs were invited for a meet with EC but no one turned up: Report

The poll body said Jairam Ramesh had acknowledged the invitation for a meeting with ECI to be held at 12 noon on Monday, however, he later changed his tone

As many as 30 Opposition MPs, including Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, were reportedly invited by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for a meeting on Monday. However, the delegation did not attend it, according to a report by Hindustan Times.

This came amid a protest march by Opposition MPs from Parliament to the commission’s headquarters.

The poll body said Ramesh had acknowledged the invitation for a meeting with ECI to be held at 12 noon on Monday, however, he later changed his tone.

“Jairam Ramesh had acknowledged yesterday, the invitation for 30 MPs to meet ECI today at 12 noon. Now he has changed his tone… How does one trust INC? They agreed to come with 30 MPs and then find ways to run away from EC,” senior ECI officials were quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Earlier, Jairam Ramesh wrote a letter to EC, seeking appointment over a number of issues including special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. He also informed the poll body of the opposition’s march on August 11.

“…Thereafter, the MPs wish to collectively meet with the Commission on a host of issues including but not limited to Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls being undertaken in Bihar and proposed to be undertaken in other states as well,” the letter read.

Meanwhile, opposition MPs were detained on their way to the EC office on Monday to voice their protest against the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and alleged 'vote chori'. They were released later.

The MPs from various parties took out a protest march from Parliament House to the EC headquarters, about a kilometre away, but were stopped midway by police amid high drama.

The opposition march was against the SIR exercise, which they allege is aimed at manipulating electoral rolls ahead of polls.

The Congress is also protesting what it claims was large-scale manipulation of voter lists in Bengaluru's Mahadevapura constituency during the 2023 Assembly elections.