Congress Calls Million Rally in Delhi to Demand Election Chief's Resignation

Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to fill the Ramlila Maidan grounds in Delhi on Sunday for a mega rally organized by the opposition Congress party. The demonstration is scheduled to begin around noon and aims to secure the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Congress leaders claim one million people will attend the event. The rally has drawn support from several top figures in the Congress-led INDIA alliance and the Gen Z-led pressure group Cockroach Janta Party.

The protest targets a voter-list revision exercise that has removed 130 million names from draft rolls across India. The Election Commission of India calls the process the Special Intensive Revision and says it purges names of deceased individuals or those who have moved away. Opposition parties argue the exercise benefits Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party by eliminating eligible voters. They accuse the CEC and the BJP of vote theft, a charge both groups have denied.

Tensions rose in September after The Indian Express reported that Gyanesh Kumar made key decisions regarding the exercise without the agreement of the other two election commissioners. The report noted that the other commissioners raised objections on more than a dozen occasions. The Election Commission stated that differences of opinion are normal in any institution and did not disrupt its functioning.

Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader, called the protest a defense against the demolition of Indian democracy. He stated that all opposition parties and any individuals wishing to join are welcome. Gandhi described the current situation as causing huge anger and emotional pain because millions are being disenfranchised. He emphasized that the group is defending the Constitution and the idea of India.

Delhi police granted permission for the rally with specific conditions. The event must conclude by 5 p.m. CCTV cameras are required at the venue, and marches are prohibited outside the designated protest site. Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across the city, including on roads leading to Ramlila Grounds. Opposition groups have accused the government of trying to stop people from traveling to Delhi to participate.

The rally has created divisions among traders in Chandni Chowk, a market located less than a kilometer from the venue. One group of traders said the protest could hurt business during the festive season, which arrives just one week before Diwali. A rival group supported Gandhi's rally and criticized the BJP for holding a march through the market on Thursday, arguing that disrupted the festive season more.

Gandhi has appealed to supporters to attend in large numbers and not worry about police tactics. He wrote on X that the BJP would not have the guts to try their antics. His comments follow concerns about the policing of recent protests in the capital. On October 10, thousands of security personnel shut down large parts of the city to thwart protests called by the CJP against Gyanesh Kumar. All top CJP leaders were detained, and demonstrators were beaten and dragged through the streets to break up the gathering.