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Supporters of the INDIA bloc gather at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan for the 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' rally on November 1.(Img: X)
New Delhi: Supporters of the INDIA bloc began assembling at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on Sunday ahead of the Opposition's 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' rally against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleged irregularities in the electoral process.
The protest, which brings together several Opposition parties, student organisations and other groups, is centred on concerns surrounding the Election Commission's functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The INDIA bloc's planned 'Chalo Dilli' march is scheduled to begin at 12 pm from the Minto Road Connaught Place junction. Participants will proceed towards Ajmeri Gate before reaching Ramlila Maidan, where the main rally will take place.
According to the reports , supporters started arriving at the venue as early as 5.30 am. A large number of party workers and supporters were also seen gathering near Himachal Bhawan ahead of the demonstration.
Student activists affiliated with the Students' Federation of India (SFI) organised a separate march from Surjeet Bhawan to join the Opposition gathering.
Authorities have put extensive security arrangements in place to manage the expected crowd. Nearly 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across central Delhi, while more than 200 CCTV cameras are monitoring the venue and surrounding areas.
According to the reports , police personnel and volunteers had been stationed at designated enclosures to maintain order and assist visitors.
While the INDIA bloc has indicated that close to one million people could participate, the police have made arrangements based on Ramlila Maidan's estimated capacity of 50,000. Any additional gathering will be managed outside the venue.
The rally follows renewed Opposition criticism of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Political parties have repeatedly raised concerns over alleged electoral irregularities and the SIR exercise.
The controversy gained fresh momentum following a media report claiming that Election Commissioners had objected to certain decisions taken by the CEC on 14 occasions over 10 months. The Election Commission, however, maintained that its decisions were unanimous.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said the Opposition would present its concerns about the Election Commission before the public. TMC MP Sagarika Ghose also called for the issue to be taken up during the Winter Session of Parliament.
Ahead of the demonstration, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged participants travelling to the Capital to support local businesses during the festive season.
He appealed to visitors to combine their participation in the protest with shopping from Delhi's markets, saying the move could benefit local traders.
The ‘Chalo Delhi’ march is scheduled to begin at noon from the Minto Road Connaught Place junction, proceed towards Ajmeri Gate and culminate at Ramlila Maidan. The main rally is scheduled between 10 am and 5 pm. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Hemant Soren, Revanth Reddy and Tejashwi Yadav, are expected to participate.
The demonstration follows a symbolic public impeachment programme against CEC Gyanesh Kumar organised by Opposition leaders at Kharge's residence on Saturday. The political controversy intensified after a media report highlighted disagreements involving election commissioners over decisions taken by the CEC. The Election Commission has maintained that its decisions were unanimous, while Opposition parties continue to question the transparency of electoral roll revisions.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), founded by Abhijeet Dipke, has extended moral support to the demonstration but clarified that it will not formally participate, maintaining its independent identity. Student organisations, Left supporters and participants from several states have also begun arriving in Delhi. Some protesters travelling from Punjab alleged overnight delays due to barricading along the Punjab-Haryana border.
Adding to the political confrontation, the BJP is organising a separate march in West Delhi to remember victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Led by Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the programme is scheduled from Hari Nagar Bus Depot to Tilak Nagar Metro Station.
With electoral transparency, the SIR exercise, Opposition unity, security arrangements and the political legacy of 1984 dominating the day's developments, Delhi's competing demonstrations have emerged as a major national political flashpoint.
