As Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, along with his sister and Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and lawmakers from the INDIA bloc laid siege near Election Commission of India’s (ECI) headquarters, seeking an appointment with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the poll body clarified that no appointment was sought by any political party with it through its representatives.Though it added that around 4 pm, information was received from Delhi Police that a delegation of MPs, led by Gandhi, wished to meet the Commission and submit a memorandum.The poll body said that after 4 pm on Tuesday, when it was considering the proposal by the Opposition MPs led by Gandhi for a meeting to submit a memorandum, the ECI was informed by senior police officials that the meeting being sought was to be held with a group of 240 MPs and that the proposed venue was the Parliament House Annexe.The Election Commission considered this request as unusual and, therefore, it could not be accepted, as, in accordance with ECI protocol, such meetings are held only on the premises of the Election Commission, the statement added.In a detailed statement issued by the ECI, it said that an offer was given by the poll body to send its senior-most official to the protesting MPs at their proposed venue of Parliament Annexe, to receive their memorandum, which in itself would have been an unprecedented step. However, the proposal was rejected by them.The ECI further said that any political party could request for a meeting with it; however, the appointments are granted depending on suitability of date and time, and within its own protocols and conventions.”In 2025, the ECI had laid down a procedure for meetings with political parties. All political parties had been informed of the same and they follow this procedure. Whenever a delegation of a political party, or a joint delegation of several parties, wishes to meet the Commission, it seeks an appointment through its duly authorised representative. The meeting is thereafter held at a time mutually agreed upon by both sides,” the statement added.The clarification from the ECI came after the LoP, along with Priyanka Gandhi and hundreds of Congress workers and supporters, laid siege outside the ECI office, seeking an appointment with CEC Gyanesh Kumar on the issue of alleged vote theft and submit a memorandum demanding his resignation.