INDIA bloc stages mega rally in Delhi; Amit Shah shifts focus to anti-Sikh riots
Rahul, Priyanka, Akhilesh, Mamata, Tejashwi, Farooq Abdullah Supriya Sule, and other leaders protest against CEC Kumar, SIR at Ramlila Maidan
INDIA bloc leaders, including the Congress's Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, National Conference MP Farooq Abdullah, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule, TMC leader Mamata Banerjee, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and others held a mega rally against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday (November 1).
Addressing the Rahul Gandhi said, “This is not voice of one party or leader; this is voice of India’s youth, women, farmers, workers.” He asserted that “Gyanesh Kumar will be removed as CEC and he will go to jail.” “We don’t want a country where only two or three people flourish and capture entire system; we will not allow this,” he added.
“The first step to put the country back on rails is to remove Gyanesh Kumar as CEC,” he said, adding that action will be taken against CEC Kumar and INDIA bloc will take on PM Modi next.
Kharge targets Modi-Shah
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of shielding CEC Kumar. “Modi and Shah have attempted to snatch the vote of Dalits, youth and women. Modi ji wants to take away their votes through his man, Ganesh Kumar. We will keep fighting until he goes, and ensure his exit,” Kharge said.
Alleging that Modi and Shah are trying to protect Kumar, Kharge said “even if the CEC hides underground, we will find him”. “Be it the central government, governments in Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, they are chori governments (formed on stolen mandate). We have to throw out these vote chor,” Kharge said.
“Modi jayega to hi loktantra bachega, Modi ko hatayenge tabhi loktantra ko bachenyenge, Modi ko hatao loktantra ko bachao (Remove Modi to save democracy),” he said.
Mock impeachment of Gyanesh Kumar
It comes a day after INDIA Bloc carried out a symbolic “public impeachment” of Gyanesh Kumar in a mock-Parliament kind of setting.
In an unprecedented event, opposition MPs and leaders, joined by civil society members, passed a resolution to "impeach" Kumar at a meeting presided over by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar in a setting resembling Parliament proceedings at the lawns of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's 10, Rajaji Marg residence in Delhi.
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Live Updates
- 1 Nov 2026 3:05 PM IST
Tharoor questions CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter deletions
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday said people had lost faith in Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, questioning his role in overseeing the electoral process.
Speaking at the INDIA bloc’s mega rally in Delhi, Tharoor objected to what he alleged was the removal of 130 million names from electoral rolls and called for voters’ rights to be protected.
"... People have lost faith in Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar... We don't want this gentleman as a non-impartial empire trying to determine the political future of India by cutting 130 million names from the electoral rolls. You have to give people the right to vote..."
- 1 Nov 2026 2:48 PM IST
Gaurav Gogoi calls INDIA bloc rally a historic show of unity
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday described the INDIA bloc’s mega rally in Delhi as a historic show of opposition unity, saying people from different sections of society had come together to defend democracy.
Speaking at the rally, Gogoi said students, farmers and others were part of the movement, and accused the BJP of being unsettled by the growing unity.
"This is historic. The entire nation is now united under the 'INDIA' bloc—students, farmers, all of us stand together—and we will safeguard the country's democracy. The BJP now appears to be fearful of this national unity—of this movement by the people of the country," he said.
- 1 Nov 2026 2:38 PM IST
Sanjay Raut calls INDIA bloc rally a 'revolution', says 'heading for regime change'
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday described the INDIA bloc’s rally against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as a “revolution”, saying the opposition alliance was moving towards a change of government.
Speaking to ANI at the rally in Delhi, Raut said, “Kranti aa rahi hai. Hum regime change ki taraf ja rahe hai (Revolution is coming. We are moving towards regime change).”
- 1 Nov 2026 2:25 PM IST
Manickam Tagore says Gyanesh Kumar must resign
Congress MP Manickam Tagore called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar while attending the INDIA bloc’s mega rally in Delhi.
Speaking at the rally, Tagore said the gathering reflected strong public support for the demand.
"The energy is full, and you are also seeing the 'Josh', and we want the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. That is the only thing we are asking... everybody has to bow down before the people's power," he said.
- 1 Nov 2026 2:19 PM IST
Kharge seeks CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s removal | Watch the discussion on The Federal
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has called for the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner(CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of betraying the people and the Constitution. He also demanded that Kumar be tried for treason.
Addressing the mock impeachment proceedings against the CEC, Kharge questioned the legal protection granted to the CEC under a law passed in December 2023.
“It is clear that the lifelong legal protection provided to the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr Gyanesh Kumar, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah through this government in December 2023 was intended as a cover for the criminal activities enacted by him against the nation and the Constitution of India. Therefore, he must be removed forthwith. Members of Parliament of the INDIA alliance, representing over 60 per cent of the population of India, along with the citizens assembled in New Delhi on October 31, 2026, resolved that for this gross betrayal of the people of India, the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr Gyanesh Kumar, must be tried for treason in a court of law in accordance with the legal framework of the Constitution of India,” Kharge said.
Watch the discussion on The Federal
- 1 Nov 2026 2:09 PM IST
INDIA bloc steps up ‘Vote Chori’ campaign with Delhi mega rally
The INDIA bloc is taking its ‘Vote Chori’ campaign to Delhi with a mega rally, sharpening its confrontation with the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Opposition leaders are expected to flag concerns over electoral integrity, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged discrepancies in voter lists.
Watch The Federal’s LIVE coverage for speeches, key developments and updates from the Opposition’s rally in the national capital.
- 1 Nov 2026 1:57 PM IST
INDIA bloc leaders to march from Minto Road to Ramlila Maidan
INDIA bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav, are set to march from Minto Road to Ramlila Maidan in Delhi for the opposition alliance’s mega rally, which will begin shortly.
- 1 Nov 2026 1:53 PM IST
INDIA bloc leaders reach Connaught Place ahead of mega rally
Several INDIA bloc leaders, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and National Conference MP Farooq Abdullah, reached Connaught Place in Delhi ahead of the opposition alliance’s mega rally.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule, TMC leader Mamata Banerjee and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav were also among those present.
The leaders are scheduled to march from Minto Road to Ramlila Maidan, where the INDIA bloc’s mega rally is set to begin shortly.
- 1 Nov 2026 1:47 PM IST
Piyush Goyal accuses Rahul Gandhi of 'riot-mongering politics'
Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday criticised Rahul Gandhi and the Congress over the INDIA bloc rally in Delhi, accusing them of pursuing what he described as “riot-mongering politics”.
In a post on X, Goyal said the country would be governed by the Constitution and the mandate of its people, not by the politics of Rahul Gandhi, the Congress and its allies.
He also took a swipe at the Congress's political prospects, claiming the rally would prove to be “the final nail in the coffin of the Congress’s political downfall”.
- 1 Nov 2026 1:43 PM IST
Rahul accuses BJP of shutting shops in Connaught Place
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the BJP of shutting down shops in Delhi’s Connaught Place ahead of the INDIA bloc’s mega rally, alleging that the move had caused losses to local traders.
In a post on social media, Rahul said the Congress had urged people attending the march and rally to shop at local businesses.
"We told everyone that when you come here for the march and the mega rally, buy things, do some shopping," he wrote.
Rahul said he and others found shops closed while travelling through Connaught Place. "But, while coming to Connaught Place here, we found out that the BJP has forcibly shut down every single shop," he alleged.
He also accused the BJP of being responsible for the losses faced by traders, asking people to recognise "who is causing the loss to the traders, and how it's happening!"
