Huge Crowd Gathers as Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav Join March to Ramlila Maidan

November 1, 2026

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, appealed to the people of Delhi and surrounding states to join the opposition INDIA alliance’s ‘Chalo Delhi’ march on Sunday, November 1st. He urged citizens to begin the march from Connaught Place at 12 noon or proceed directly to Ramlila Maidan. Through this protest, the opposition will protest the alleged deletion of names from the voter list, and demand the replacement of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with ballot papers and the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

Rahul Gandhi shared the route map of the protest on the social media platform X, urging people to join. He wrote, “Delhi, get ready! Save the vote, save the country. Let’s march together from Connaught Place. Or proceed directly to Ramlila Maidan, but you have to come. Today at 12 noon #ChaloDilli.”

The opposition alliance alleges that the Election Commission has removed a large number of eligible voters’ names without adequate verification during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. The opposition claims this has particularly affected disadvantaged, backward, and minority communities.

The INDIA alliance has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the Election Commission of failing to maintain the fairness of the electoral process. This rally follows a symbolic “mock impeachment” event held a day earlier at the residence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Several prominent leaders of the opposition alliance are attending the rally and the address at Ramlila Maidan. These include Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Hemant Soren, Revanth Reddy, and Tejashwi Yadav.

INDIA alliance and BJP hold separate marches in Delhi

Political activity remained intense in New Delhi on Sunday with two major political events. On one hand, the India alliance is organizing the “Chalo Delhi Ramlila March” at Ramlila Maidan. During this, demands are being raised for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Meanwhile, the ruling BJP has prepared to hold a march in West Delhi to commemorate the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The BJP has accused the Congress of organizing a political rally on the anniversary of the violence.

The BJP march will be held from the Hari Nagar bus depot in West Delhi to the Tilak Nagar Metro Station. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi BJP President, Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, Sardar H.S. Phoolka, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and MP Bansuri Swaraj, along with members of the Sikh community, will participate.

Security beefed up at the Delhi-Gurugram border

In view of the protests by opposition parties, security has been tightened at the Delhi-Gurugram border. Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were deployed along with police at the border on Sunday. Vigilance has been increased on the routes entering the national capital.

Heavy barricading has been put in place on major routes, and suspicious vehicles are being checked. Security agencies are on high alert in central Delhi in view of rallies and demonstrations by opposition parties.

Nearly 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel deployed

In view of both political events, nearly 10,000 police personnel and paramilitary personnel, including the Delhi Police, have been deployed in central and New Delhi. These include personnel from the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Rapid Action Force (RAF).

More than 4,000 security personnel have been deployed around Ramlila Maidan, from Minto Bridge to the rally venue, and in the surrounding areas. Multi-layered barricading and extensive security arrangements have also been made around Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar, Bhagwan Das Road, the Supreme Court, and the Election Commission office.

Section 163 of the Indian Civil Services Code (BNSS) has been invoked to prevent large gatherings of unauthorized people in sensitive areas. Security agencies are using CCTV cameras, AI-based facial recognition systems and drones to monitor crowd movements.