The Election Commission of India has declined a request from opposition MPs for a meeting at the Parliament House Annexe. The request came from about 240 MPs led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The ECI called the venue and protocol “unusual” for such a meeting.

The Delhi Police informed the ECI on October 6 that the MPs wanted to meet at the Annexe. The ECI said no party had sought an appointment till 4 pm that day. It offered instead to receive the MPs’ memorandum through its senior-most officer. The opposition rejected that offer.

The ECI said established protocol requires meetings to be held at its headquarters, Nirvachan Sadan. It said the Parliament Annexe was not the place for such a meeting. The Commission said it was ready to meet the MPs at a proper venue.

On October 7, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called a lunch meeting of opposition MPs. The MPs will sign a letter seeking a formal audience with the Chief Election Commissioner over the voter roll revision drive.