Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has informed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge that its representatives will not attend the INDIA bloc’s scheduled meeting with President Droupadi Murmu on Friday evening, citing prior commitments in Maharashtra related to the upcoming Legislative Council elections. The party, however, has expressed full support for the opposition alliance’s campaign over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and said it stands firmly with the bloc on the issue. The meeting with the President is scheduled for 8 pm at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

In a letter to Kharge, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut and Arvind Sawant conveyed the party’s “unequivocal and full support” to the INDIA bloc under his leadership and to the campaign spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi. They said the party backed the alliance’s efforts to raise concerns about the electoral process. The letter sought to make clear that the decision to stay away from the meeting was due to scheduling commitments rather than a withdrawal of political support for the opposition’s campaign.

The INDIA bloc delegation is seeking action over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The opposition has raised concerns about the revision exercise and its implications for the electoral process. The President’s office reportedly confirmed the appointment on Friday morning after the alliance sought a meeting to present its concerns.

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Raut and Sawant said their party stood behind steps being taken to hold those responsible accountable. In the letter, they referred to alleged attempts to undermine democratic and constitutional institutions and said the alliance should continue its efforts to expose those responsible. Their remarks reflected the party’s support for the opposition’s position, although the allegations concerning electoral roll irregularities remain claims raised by the INDIA bloc.

Explaining the absence, the two leaders said they had pre-engaged programmes in Maharashtra connected to the upcoming MLC elections and would therefore be unable to attend the meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan. They apologised for missing the appointment and asked Kharge to convey their solidarity to the President. The party also described the opposition’s campaign as a fight to protect democracy and the Constitution, reiterating that it remained aligned with the alliance’s efforts.

The delegation expected to meet President Murmu includes Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Shiv Sena (UBT) will not be represented at the meeting, according to the letter, but has pledged continued support for the INDIA bloc’s campaign. The meeting is intended to place the opposition’s concerns over the electoral roll revision before the President, with the alliance pressing for action over its allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner.

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