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Delhi Police issues NOC for the November 1 Congress rally, paving the way for preparations at Ramlila Maidan. (Img: X)
New Delhi: The Congress party has received permission from the Delhi Police to hold a major rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 as part of the INDIA bloc’s campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The rally is expected to be an important part of the Opposition’s wider campaign for electoral transparency, democratic accountability and changes to India’s voting system.
The Delhi Police issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) on October 17, clearing the way for the Congress to begin preparations for the proposed event. The rally was announced by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge following a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders on September 30, when opposition parties finalised a joint action plan to challenge the SIR process.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central District) Rohit Rajbir Singh confirmed that the Congress had approached the police for the required clearance after checking the availability of Ramlila Maidan with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
The MCD informed the party that the ground would be available from October 25 to November 3. After receiving confirmation of the venue’s availability, the Congress applied for police clearance. Following discussions with party representatives and an assessment of security requirements, the Delhi Police issued the NOC.
The Congress will now submit the certificate to the MCD, which manages the venue, before proceeding with the rally arrangements. The ground will remain booked for the specified period, although the rally itself is scheduled for November 1.
The Delhi Police has also said it is coordinating with rally organisers, traffic police and other relevant agencies to ensure adequate security, crowd management, law and order and smooth traffic movement in central Delhi.
Ramlila Maidan is among the designated protest venues in the national capital, alongside CBD Ground and Burari Ground. These locations have been identified for public demonstrations following changes to the list of permitted protest sites, which included the removal of Jantar Mantar from the designated list.
The November 1 rally is part of the INDIA bloc’s coordinated campaign against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The alliance finalised its joint action plan on September 30, with plans for public rallies, district-level protests and Save Democracy marches.
Kharge announced the proposed mega rally in Delhi as part of the Congress’s efforts to mobilise public support around concerns over voter registration and the electoral process.
The opposition alliance has raised questions about the addition and deletion of names from electoral rolls during the SIR exercise. Its leaders have called for greater transparency in voter-list revision and have alleged irregularities under the broader political campaign against what they describe as vote chori.
The INDIA bloc’s action plan also includes a proposed march by Opposition MPs to the Election Commission of India to raise concerns about the electoral roll revision process.
Another major demand emerging from the alliance’s September 30 meeting concerns the use of paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs). Kharge said the participating parties had agreed to support elections conducted using ballot papers, making the voting system another central issue in the Opposition’s campaign.
The Congress and its allies are seeking to turn their concerns about voter-list revision and election procedures into a wider public mobilisation campaign ahead of upcoming electoral contests.
The INDIA bloc’s campaign has gathered momentum amid scrutiny of the Election Commission of India’s handling of the SIR process.
A report published by The Indian Express stated that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over a period of 10 months concerning decisions and orders related to the revision exercise. According to the report, the objections involved decisions that the commissioners said had been issued without their knowledge or recommendation.
The reported differences have added to the political debate surrounding the Election Commission’s decision-making process and the implementation of the electoral roll revision exercise.
Responding to the controversy, the Election Commission maintained that differences of opinion and observations are normal during institutional deliberations. The poll body also stated that its orders have full legal backing and comply with established statutory procedures.
The Opposition, meanwhile, has continued to demand greater accountability and transparency in the management of electoral rolls. Concerns over alleged voter deletions and possible electoral irregularities have also featured in legal challenges, including a petition filed before the Supreme Court, as reported in coverage of the dispute.
The November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan is expected to serve as a major platform for the Congress to bring these issues before the public and strengthen the INDIA bloc’s coordinated campaign.
With police clearance secured and the venue availability confirmed, the next phase will involve organising the event, coordinating logistics and making arrangements for supporters expected to attend the rally. The demonstration will place the SIR controversy, voter-list transparency and the Opposition’s demand for ballot paper-based elections at the centre of the political debate in the national capital.
