The Election Commission of India has said the opposition MPs' demand for a meeting at the Parliament Annexe 'could not be accepted'.

The demand came amid the opposition's ongoing protest against the Chief Election Commissioner over alleged irregularities in the voter rolls.

Opposition leaders had sought the meeting to press their concerns. The Commission's response adds to the standoff between the two sides.

The row follows a protest march on October 7. Police detained around 260 people, including Congress workers and INDIA bloc leaders, for breaching barricades.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the poll body of 'vote theft'. The BJP has called the protest a political drama and the claims lies.

The Commission has defended its processes. It says the voter-roll revisions follow the law and due procedure.

Parliamentary protests over the poll body are rare. The dispute has now become one of the sharpest political fights of the year.

Further protests are planned. Both sides show no sign of backing down in the confrontation over the electoral process.