INDIA Bloc to hold massive rally at Ramlila Maidan against Chief Election Commissioner

A massive rally has been organised by the INDIA Bloc today at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. More than 20 opposition parties will participate in this rally. According to claims made by the Congress, over 10 lakh people will gather at this programme. Key leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, and Mamata Banerjee will address this rally. This is the 9th occasion in the last 25 days where opposition parties have gathered against SIR.

According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, the opposition parties had previously shown activism on this issue. During the 8 days between 6 to 13 October, leaders of the INDIA Bloc, including Rahul Gandhi, had conducted protest demonstrations 8 times. Regarding this rally, the Delhi Police stated that permission has been granted for the programme only from 10 am to 5 pm. After this period, the entire venue must be vacated, as permission for overnight stay has not been granted.

This rally is likely to have a major impact on Delhi's trade. It could affect the business of more than 20 large wholesale markets located within a 5 km radius of Ramlila Maidan. These markets include Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Khari Baoli, Naya Bazar, Chawri Bazar, Dariganj, and Kashmiri Gate. Due to barricading and road closures, the 3 to 4 lakh shoppers who come to the markets from outside Delhi every day will not be able to reach them. Local customers may also avoid coming to the markets due to restrictions on traffic and movement.

Trader organisations have expressed concern over this rally. Brijesh Goyal, President of the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), had made a representation on this matter by writing a letter to all parties of the INDIA alliance. The organisation has estimated that this rally could cause a commercial loss of ₹10,000 crore during the Diwali festive season. Traders had requested Rahul Gandhi 4 times via letters to postpone this rally until 10 November. According to CAIT, these markets had recorded a sale of ₹75,000 crore during the Diwali festivals in 2025.

Regarding this matter, Rahul Gandhi released a video on X at 11 pm on Saturday, appealing to the people. He said, "On 1 November, millions of people are coming to Delhi for the Ramlila March. It is currently the festive season, the time of Diwali, Chhath, and Bhai Dooj. I want the millions coming from outside to help the traders here. Protest, march, and rally, but also do some shopping so that the traders benefit. I know that traders will not suffer loss due to the rally. BJP is scared, so it is spreading rumours."

Rahul Gandhi further added, "Do both. Tomorrow there will be a march and rally, and millions will also buy goods from even the small shops of our traders." He had appealed to people to reach Ramlila Maidan through a post on X on 29 October, stating that this march is to save democracy and the Constitution and to prevent the theft of votes. He clarified that this is not the movement of a single party but of the entire country. The Cockroach Janata Party has also supported this rally.

This controversy against SIR has also reached the Supreme Court. On 12 October 2026, leaders of Congress, SP, TMC, RJD, Left parties, and other opposition parties, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, marched from Delhi's Barakhamba Road to the Supreme Court. On the same day, 13 leaders from 12 parties filed an application in the Supreme Court. The application was filed on 13 October. Subsequently, on 15 October, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Election Commission and clubbed this application with other pending applications related to SIR.

On 27 October, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard the case. During this, the Election Commission stated that all decisions regarding SIR were taken with the consensus of all members. The Supreme Court has given the petitioners 10 days to present their views on the Election Commission's reply. The next hearing for all these related cases has been fixed for 17 November 2026.