Ramlila Maidan Rally: INDIA Bloc Seeks Removal of Chief Election Commissioner & scrapping SIR
NEW DELHI, 1 November 2026 — Tens of thousands of INDIA bloc supporters converged at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday as top opposition leaders led a ‘Chalo Delhi – Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ march demanding accountability from the Election Commission.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi led the protest from Connaught Place to Ramlila Maidan in an open vehicle, alongside Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and senior leaders including Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Tejashwi Yadav, Hemant Soren, Revanth Reddy, D. Raja, Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.
The rally was called over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls. The INDIA bloc accused the EC of deleting 13.2 crore names and alleged the exercise was being used to selectively alter rolls.
Speaking to the crowd, Gandhi made three core demands: the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, an end to the SIR exercise, and a return to paper ballots. He alleged “vote theft” in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and claimed 15% of voters were removed from rolls post-election.
“This is not the voice of a single political party. It is the voice of India’s youth, women, farmers and workers,” Gandhi said, adding the alliance would “not allow democracy to be destroyed”.
Ahead of the rally, he also urged participants to shop in Delhi markets to support traders during the festive season. ipanewspack.comKharge vowed the fight would continue “until Gyanesh Kumar resigns”. Police permitted the rally till 5 pm with security deployed across central Delhi.
The Hindu adds: Accusing Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of committing “treason” by “stealing the voice of citizens”, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday said the poll official would be removed from office. He would “go to jail”, Mr. Gandhi said.
Note – To be updated
