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Updated - November 01, 2026 09:35 am IST
Security tightened ahead of a "Save Democracy" march towards Ramlila Maidan led by INDIA bloc leaders amid calls for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign, in New Delhi on November 1, 2026 | Photo Credit: Reuters
The stage is set for the INDIA bloc’s mega rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday (November 1, 2026), with opposition leaders and supporters from different states beginning to reach the national capital for a show of strength against alleged electoral irregularities and to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Posters announcing the INDIA bloc’s ‘Chalo Delhi’ march were put up outside Ramlila Maidan, as security personnel were deployed at the venue ahead of the Opposition’s mega rally on Sunday (November 1, 2026). A post by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) also highlighted the rally, with preparations underway ahead of the event.
The bloc carried out a symbolic “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, unanimously adopting a motion by a show of hands on Saturday (October 31).
They levelled six charges against him, including conspiring with the ruling BJP to steal elections, deleting 13.2 crore voters through the special intensive revision (SIR) of voter lists, and acting at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
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AICC general secretary K C Venugopal on Sunday (November 1, 2026) said the party’s protest rally against CEC Gyanesh Kumar to be held during the day at Ramlila grounds in New Delhi was a “stern warning” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Congress has alleged electoral irregularities and demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
Mr. Venugopal told the media in Delhi that it will be a protest like never before and that it has affected the composure of the PM and Home Minister.
“They have lost their composure seeing the magnitude of the public support for the protest. That is why they are making statements that the protestors are anarchists and the agitation was an insult to the Parliament. The protest is a stern warning to them,” the Congress leader said.
“Gyanesh will be removed from his post. Take it from us,” he added.
Mr. Venugopal also said that it would be “good for the police” if they cooperate. -- PTI
The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory announcing traffic restrictions and diversions in parts of Central Delhi on Sunday in view of a proposed INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan, with a large gathering expected at the venue. The restrictions will remain in place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and traffic movement on several adjoining roads is likely to be affected.
The advisory lists several diversion points, including Netaji Subhash Marg T-Point, Rajghat, Delhi Gate, ITO A-Point, Ajmeri Gate Red Light, Ranjeet Singh Flyover at Barakhamba Road, Bhavbhuti Marg-DDU Marg Red Light, Jhandewalan Roundabout, Turkman Gate and Mirdard Chowk.
Traffic advisory: Central Delhi traffic restrictions, diversions, and bus routes for INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with alternate routes and public transit tips.
E-rickshaws pass by cutouts of Indian National Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and K. C. Venugopal put up outside Ramlila Maidan ahead of the "Save Democracy" march to be led by Rahul Gandhi, amid calls for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign, in New Delhi, India, October 31, 2026. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Posters announcing the INDIA bloc’s ‘Chalo Delhi’ march were put up outside Ramlila Maidan, as security personnel were deployed at the venue ahead of the Opposition’s mega rally on Sunday (November 1, 2026).
A post by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) also highlighted the rally, with preparations underway ahead of the event.
New Delhi, Oct 31 (ANI): Banners and posters put up along the roadside featuring Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other leaders ahead of the INDIA bloc's scheduled 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' rally at Ramlila Maidan, in New Delhi on Saturday. (ANI Video Grab)
The INDIA bloc is organising the ‘Chalo Delhi’ march as part of its protest against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
The protest follows the INDIA bloc’s public impeachment programme against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, held in the national capital on October 31.Meanwhile, New Delhi has turned into a high-octane political battlefield with two major showdowns unfolding side-by-side. -- ANI
The chair on which former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar sat while presiding over the INDIA bloc’s “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday (October 31, 2026) was once occupied by the country’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
The information was provided by Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera, who was involved with organising the symbolic public impeachment.
“The chair on which Meira Kumar sat during today’s public impeachment proceedings against the CEC was once occupied by the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, the great-grandfather of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi,” Mr. Khera said on X.
MeiraKumarSpeaker.jpg
“It was Nehru Ji’s chair throughout his tenure as prime minister. It witnessed some of the most consequential decisions in our nation’s history and carries the weight of that legacy,” he said.
Today, in that very chair, invoking the spirit of Nehru, former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar pronounced Gyanesh Kumar unfit to continue as the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Mr. Khera said.
“Gyanesh Kumar has been rejected by the people of India. It is only a matter of time before he goes,” Mr. Khera said. -- PTI
Everyone has the right to raise issues concerning the country through demonstrations, but such protests must be conducted with the national interest in mind, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) national publicity in-charge Sunil Ambekar said on Saturday (October 31, 2026). He also urged people to remain vigilant against attempts by anti-national forces to exploit public demonstrations.
Mr. Ambekar was speaking to the media in Indore ahead of the RSS’ three-day national meeting, scheduled to begin on Monday (November 2).
RSS urges protests serve national interest, warns against anti-national exploitation while addressing UGC concerns and expanding global outreach.
Amid concerns of traders in central Delhi over the impact of the crowd expected at the INDIA bloc’s ‘Chalo Dilli’ rally on Sunday (November 1, 2026), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday (October 31, 2026) urged people to do some festival season shopping after attending the rally.
In a video released late in the day, Mr. Gandhi appealed to people to shop for upcoming festivals like Deepavali, Chhath, and Bhai Dooj.
Rahul Gandhi urges Delhi rally attendees to support local traders by shopping for Deepavali and other festivals.
Opposition parties in West Bengal have stepped up the heat on the issue of 16.10 lakh appeals filed against the inclusion of voters following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the State.
Leaders of the Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have questioned the lack of clarity over who authorised the filing of the appeals after the SIR concluded in the State.
Opposition in West Bengal questions ECI over 16.10 lakh voter-inclusion appeals amid accountability concerns and SIR controversy.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday said INDIA bloc’s upcoming rally in Delhi is a “serious political mistake” and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to “introspect”.
Mr. Puri called the INDIA bloc’s Sunday (November 1) rally as “completely insensitive to the mass atrocities committed 42 years ago”.
He noted that the trading community has also urged the Congress to reconsider the date of the rally in view of the festive season.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday (October 31) met Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee in Delhi and thanked her for supporting the outfit’s youth-led protests, while extending solidarity with the INDIA bloc rally on the “vote chori” charge.
He, however, said that the CJP would retain its independent identity and not join the Sunday protest by the opposition parties.
Mr. Dipke said he had called on Ms. Banerjee to express gratitude for her support to the outfit’s first protest at Jantar Mantar on the NEET paper leak issue and her backing when its leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were arrested by the Delhi Police.
Left leaders on Saturday (October 31) accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of undermining universal adult franchise through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, with CPI(M) MP John Brittas alleging that even elected representatives are being made to establish their eligibility to vote.
The CEC has lost the moral and legal authority to remain in office, he asserted.
Speaking at the INDIA bloc’s “public impeachment” programme, Mr. Brittas said citizens who had exercised their franchise for decades are now finding their names deleted from electoral rolls, being summoned for hearings, and being told to prove their existence.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday (October 31, 2026) accused the Congress and its allies of ridiculing democratic institutions by staging a mock Parliament session, and said that Opposition parties had repeatedly disrupted proceedings in the real Parliament.
At a press conference, BJP MP Sambit Patra referred to the structure resembling the old Parliament building erected for the mock Parliament session and said: “They want to retain everything from the old British-era structure... They should seat Rahul Gandhi ji as the mock Prime Minister in that very old structure. We have absolutely no objection.”
Catch the full story here
BJP ridicules INDIA bloc’s mock Parliament, defends SIR, political double standards, and highlights alleged vote protection amid poverty claims.
The chair on which former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar sat while presiding over the INDIA bloc’s “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday (October 31) was once occupied by the country’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
The Janata Dal (United) on Saturday (OCtober 31) termed the INDIA bloc’s public impeachment exercise against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar a “drama”, accusing the Congress of trying to push the country towards anarchy.
JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad told PTI that the exercise does not reflect the role of a constructive opposition and that the entire episode reflects an extremist perspective and will not help resolve any dispute. “This is not going to resolve any dispute in any manner. It is an attempt to push the country towards anarchy,” Mr. Prasad told PTI.
The Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance’s symbolic “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday (October 31, 2026) featured accounts from voters who alleged that their names had been deleted from electoral rolls during the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise.
Among them was Anita Jaiswal, who moved from Kolkata to Delhi. She said she had voted in every election between 2012 and 2025 but was now being asked to establish her citizenship.
Here’s the full story
Voters allege name removals in SIR; activists condemn EC during CEC Gyanesh Kumar impeachment at Kharge residence, New Delhi.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday (October 31) demanded the immediate removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the 2023 law providing immunity to the CEC, accusing the poll panel chief of working under the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
“The Modi government has hatched every conspiracy since 2014 to cling to power: stealing MPs, breaking parties, stealing governments, electoral bonds, misuse of ED/CBI. And now vote theft -- cut opposition votes and rule,” he alleged, adding that there are hundreds of examples of “vote chori”.
The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) on Saturday (October 31, 2026) carried out a symbolic “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, unanimously adopting a motion by a show of hands.
Read the full story here
INDIA bloc stages symbolic public impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar on six charges, claiming electoral manipulation and threats to voters, prompting warnings to officials.
The stage is set for the INDIA bloc’s mega rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday (November 1), with opposition leaders and supporters from different states beginning to reach the national capital for a show of strength against alleged electoral irregularities and to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
With a large tricolour canopy erected over the main stage, separate arrangements for representatives of INDIA bloc parties and security preparations in place, the Opposition is gearing up for a march from Minto Road to Ramlila Maidan, followed by a rally that is expected to bring together political parties, student groups and civil society organisations.
The mobilisation is not confined to the alliance’s political constituents.
Published - November 01, 2026 06:54 am IST
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