Delhi's INDIA bloc 'Chalo Dilli' rally gathers at Ramlila Maidan, demanding election chief's resignation

New Delhi · Politics · Nov. 1, 2026 · India's opposition INDIA bloc held its 'Chalo Dilli' rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Supporters marched about 1.5 km from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction at noon to the venue, joined by leaders including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

The demand and the dispute

The rally targets the special intensive revision (SIR) of voter lists. The opposition alleges irregularities in the revision and questions how the Election Commission has handled it; the Commission and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party reject the claim that the exercise favours the ruling party. The rally follows near-daily protests on the same issue over the past month, including a symbolic 'public impeachment' of Kumar at Kharge's residence on Saturday.

Crowd size, security and traffic

Organisers said turnout could reach one million, while police expected about 50,000. Ramlila Maidan holds an estimated 45,000 to 50,000 people when empty, falling to roughly 30,000 to 40,000 once stages, chairs, enclosures and passageways are in place. Nearly 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across central and New Delhi for the day's political events, and Delhi Traffic Police regulated and diverted traffic in central Delhi from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., urging motorists to use the Metro and avoid roadside parking.