News Desk: Thousands of opposition supporters gathered at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, November 1, as the INDIA bloc organised a major protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the electoral process. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, warning that they too would face legal action.
Addressing the gathering, Rahul Gandhi said that removing Gyanesh Kumar would be the first step towards restoring the country's democratic institutions. Responding to Amit Shah's earlier remark that Modi was not going anywhere, Gandhi said, "Narendra Modi cannot go anywhere. Even if he wants to leave, we will not let him go."
He further warned that after Gyanesh Kumar, the opposition would confront Modi and Shah over alleged vote theft. Gandhi claimed that legal proceedings would be initiated against them and asserted that nobody involved would be allowed to escape accountability.
The rally was organised under the slogan 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' and witnessed the participation of several prominent INDIA bloc leaders. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti were among those present.
The leaders travelled through central Delhi in open vehicles before reaching Ramlila Maidan, where thousands of party workers and supporters had assembled. Delhi Police estimated the attendance at around 50,000.
At the centre of the protest was the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have alleged that the exercise has resulted in the wrongful deletion of millions of eligible voters, raising concerns about the fairness of future elections.
Rahul Gandhi claimed that approximately 13.3 crore voter names had been removed from electoral rolls and questioned the timing and methodology of the exercise. He also alleged that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were affected by electoral irregularities. These allegations have been disputed by the BJP and the Election Commission, which maintain that the revision is intended to remove duplicate and ineligible entries.
Mamata Banerjee also criticised the SIR exercise, alleging that more than one crore names had been removed from West Bengal's electoral rolls. Akhilesh Yadav and other opposition leaders echoed concerns about voter rights and electoral transparency.
Meanwhile, the BJP strongly criticised the rally. Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused Congress of hurting the sentiments of victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots by holding the demonstration on November 1.
The protest marks another major confrontation between the opposition and the government over electoral transparency and the functioning of constitutional institutions.
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