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 11:01 AM IST
Delhi Police put elaborate security arrangements in place for INDIA Bloc rally
With the INDIA bloc rally expected to draw thousands of people to Ramlila Maidan, Delhi Police has put in place a multi-layered security arrangement, deploying over 4,000 personnel and installing more than 200 CCTV cameras to monitor the gathering.
The venue has been divided into 14 zones, each under the supervision of an assistant commissioner of police-rank officer, while two zones will be monitored by an additional DCP-rank officer, officials said.
The police commissioner, accompanied by senior officers, had inspected the arrangements at Minto Bridge and Ramlila Maidan on Saturday.
The security plan includes drone surveillance, body-worn cameras, anti-riot vehicles and a dedicated control room. Personnel from different districts and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be deployed along the route from Minto Bridge as well as inside the venue.
The rally, permitted between 10 am and 5 pm, is expected to attract around 50,000 people. However, police and organisers have estimated that 30,000 to 40,000 people can be accommodated comfortably after accounting for enclosures and passageways.
Around 150 additional traffic personnel will regulate vehicular movement, while special arrangements will ensure uninterrupted ambulance access to LNJP and GB Pant hospitals.
Deployment of 270 CAPF companies in Delhi has been extended till November 16.
- 1 Nov 2026 10:31 AM IST
Supporters gather at Ramlila Maidan, across capital
Supporters of various INDIA bloc parties began gathering at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan early Sunday morning, while party workers assembled at different locations across the national capital ahead of the Opposition alliance's 'Chalo Dilli' protest against alleged electoral irregularities and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Samajwadi Party workers gathered outside party chief Akhilesh Yadav's residence, while groups of Congress supporters assembled outside Himachal Bhawan before proceeding towards the rally venue.
Many supporters arrived in Delhi on Sunday morning, while several others had reached the national capital on Saturday or earlier as parties mobilised their cadres from different states for the protest.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday urged people coming to Delhi for the protest to also shop from local traders ahead of Diwali, Chhath and Bhai Dooj, asserting that the Opposition's programme would not hurt businesses.
