Election Commission: Was ready to meet 240 oppn MPs but not at their chosen venue

Till 4 pm, no political party had sought an appointment, EC said NEW DELHI: Election Commission on Tuesday, while willing to meet the 240 opposition party MPs at their request conveyed through Delhi Police, declined to do so at their suggested venue of Parliament House annexe, saying the poll panel's protocol required such meetings to be held only on EC premises and based on a request from the parties' authorised representative."EC considered this request as unusual and therefore, it could not be accepted," the panel said in a statement.As an alternative, EC proposed that its most senior officer on duty could be sent to the meeting venue to receive a memorandum, "which in itself would have been an unprecedented step", said an EC spokesperson. However, this offer was declined by the MPs.While emphasising that any political party may request for a meeting with EC, which would then schedule a date and time, the commission said it must balance its respect for parliamentary and democratic processes with that for its own protocols and conventions, "which are of utmost importance".EC said during the march by certain political parties towards Nirvachan Sadan, "it was learnt through the media that some MPs wished to meet the commission along with their delegation"."It is clarified that, till 4pm, no political party, through its representatives, had sought an appointment for a meeting with EC," the commission said. EC said around 4pm, information was received from police that a delegation of MPs led by Rahul Gandhi wished to meet and submit a memorandum. Referring to the procedure laid down in 2025 for meetings with political parties, EC said if a delegation wishes to meet, it seeks an appointment through its authorised representative. The meeting is thereafter held at a time mutually agreed upon by both sides. "This is a regular practice," EC said.When the panel was considering the proposal, it was informed by the Delhi Police DCP that the meeting was sought to be held with 240 MPs and the proposed venue was the Parliament House annexe, it said. "EC, considering its protocol to meet political parties only on its own premises and its procedure to only schedule such meetings in consultation with the parties' authorised representative, declined the offer," it said. Bharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.