Rahul Gandhi leads INDIA bloc march in Delhi, demands resignation of Chief Election Commissioner

Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in Delhi on Sunday, November 1, as INDIA bloc leaders led a march to Ramlila Maidan demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in voter list revisions.

Led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the protest was part of more than a month of opposition demonstrations against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Opposition parties allege that the revision has disproportionately affected Muslim voters and other minorities and benefits Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The procession, held under the slogan “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao”, moved from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction towards Ramlila Maidan. Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress leaders Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, and other INDIA bloc leaders travelled in open vehicles as supporters and party workers marched alongside them.

Other leaders who joined the protest included CPI(M)’s MA Baby, CPI’s D Raja, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti.

The leaders had earlier gathered at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge before proceeding to Minto Road. The crowd at Ramlila Maidan had grown by around 1.30 pm, with supporters and members of youth and student organisations carrying placards, waving national and party flags and raising slogans against the SIR exercise and Kumar.

Several participants arrived in Delhi on Sunday morning, while others had reached the capital on Saturday or earlier as opposition parties mobilised workers from different states.

तूफान 🌪️ https://t.co/7Ubs3Z2Gh3

— Congress (@INCIndia) November 1, 2026

Authorities tightened security ahead of the march and announced traffic diversions. Hundreds of security personnel, some carrying batons and shields, were deployed around Ramlila Maidan, supported by riot-control vehicles.

The voter list revision has removed more than 130 million names, a figure larger than Japan’s population. Opposition parties allege that the deletions have disproportionately affected Muslim voters and other minorities who are unlikely to support the BJP.

The Election Commission has denied favouring any political party and said voters whose names were wrongly deleted can re-enrol. The BJP has accused opposition parties of attempting to undermine democracy by questioning legitimate electoral processes.

Reena Mahto, a member of the Congress student wing, told Reuters that four members of her family had been removed from the voter list on the claim that they had moved elsewhere. She said the family had long lived in Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh.

बेहतर कल के लिए जब आज हर शख़्स शुमार होगा,
तब ही तो एक ‘मुकम्मल-बेमिसाल बदलाव’ होगा!

#वोट_बचाओ_देश_बचाओ
#दिल्ली_1_नवंबर_2026

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) November 1, 2026

“now all of ‌a sudden ⁠we have been marked as shifted from our own house,” she said, adding, “There should be accountability, and we are here to seek that.”

Another protester, Dinesh Singh, said he had joined the demonstration for the future of his children.

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“I am not affiliated with any political party,” he said. “I am here for a cause. I want ​the children to remember that we fought for their future.”

Rahul Gandhi alleges BJP shut Connaught Place shops

Gandhi also accused the BJP of forcibly shutting shops in Connaught Place, alleging that the move had caused losses to local traders.

Speaking from an open canter while travelling towards the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction, he said the INDIA bloc had appealed to people attending the rally to shop in the area and support local businesses.

“But upon reaching Connaught Place, we learned that the BJP has forcibly shut down all the shops. The country is watching how the BJP is causing loss to the shopkeepers,” Gandhi said.

On Saturday night, Gandhi had urged people travelling to Delhi for the march and rally to shop ahead of Diwali, Chhath and Bhai Dooj. He said the opposition’s programme would not hurt local businesses despite what he described as rumours being spread by the BJP.

LIVE: Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao Maha Rally | Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi https://t.co/cBVia5Q0ly

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 1, 2026

In a video statement posted on X, Gandhi said lakhs of people were expected to come to Delhi from different parts of the country.

“It is the festive season. Diwali, Chhath and Bhai Dooj are here. I want the lakhs of people coming to Delhi from different parts of the country to support the local traders,” he said.

“Along with protesting, marching and attending the rally tomorrow, do a little shopping too,” Gandhi said, adding that it would help local traders.

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“I know that our rally will not hurt the traders. The BJP is spreading rumours because it is scared,” he said.

“But let’s do both. Tomorrow, there will be a march, there will be a rally, and lakhs of people will also buy things from the small shops of our local traders. Much love to all of you. Happy Diwali. Jai Hind,” he had said.

Opposition holds symbolic impeachment of election chief

The Delhi rally came a day after INDIA bloc leaders and opposition MPs held what they described as a symbolic “public impeachment” of Kumar.

At a meeting at the lawns of Kharge’s residence at 10, Rajaji Marg, opposition MPs and leaders, along with civil society members, passed a resolution accusing the chief election commissioner of deleting votes to steal elections. They demanded that he be tried in court for treason and jailed.

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The meeting was presided over by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and held in a setting resembling parliamentary proceedings. The opposition described the event as an unprecedented exercise.

The demonstrations, involving opposition parties, student organisations and the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party, have been taking place since late September. They intensified after The Indian Express reported that Kumar’s two deputies had raised concerns internally about voter list revisions, registration procedures and digital systems.

Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda dismissed Sunday’s protest as a “carefully orchestrated drama”.

“What is unfolding today at Ramlila Maidan is not an act of respect for democracy. It is a calculated conspiracy to plunge the nation into anarchy, all in the name of democracy,” he told news agency ANI.

Analysts have described the protests and growing support for the opposition as the biggest crisis for Modi since he came to power in 2014. However, his government remains stable, and the next general election is not due until 2029.

(With inputs from agencies)