‘Beginning of end for BJP’: Congress at INDIA bloc rally as opposition demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation

Senior Congress MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday described the INDIA bloc's rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan as the “beginning of the end” for the BJP-led government at the Centre, as Opposition leaders stepped up their demand for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

“This is the beginning of the end of BJP,” Sibal told reporters while attending the rally, which brought together senior Opposition leaders and thousands of supporters from different parts of the country.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also called for the CEC to step down. “Gyanesh Kumar should resign,” he said.

Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain said the turnout reflected widespread participation from across the country and indicated that similar programmes would be organised in other cities.

“The massive surge of people you see here has risen from across the entire country. Similar programmes are set to take place in every city throughout India,” Hussain said.

The INDIA bloc's 'Chalo Delhi' march began at the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction and proceeded towards Ramlila Maidan. The protest is part of the Opposition's campaign against alleged irregularities in the Election Commission's SIR exercise, with parties claiming that legitimate voters, particularly those from marginalised, backward and minority communities, have been wrongly removed from electoral rolls.

Among the prominent leaders who attended the rally were Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, CPI leader D Raja, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav.

The gathering followed a symbolic public 'impeachment' programme against CEC Gyanesh Kumar held at Kharge's residence on October 31. The INDIA bloc has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of failing to protect the integrity of electoral rolls and has demanded the CEC's resignation.

Before reaching Minto Road, Rahul Gandhi shared a video on X, alleging that shops in Connaught Place had been forcibly shut down by the BJP ahead of the march. He had earlier urged people attending the rally to visit the market and support local traders.

“We told everyone that when you come here for the march and the mega rally, buy things, do some shopping. But, while coming to Connaught Place here, we found out that the BJP has forcibly shut down every single shop. So, you should know who is causing the loss to the traders, and how it's happening,” Gandhi said.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also welcomed the turnout, describing the public support as significant.

“The support we are receiving from across the country, the support from the people, is significant. I believe this is a crucial moment for the nation; we are all coming together, and there is strength in unity,” he told ANI.

Delhi Police deployed heavy security across the area to manage the gathering, with preparations made for an estimated turnout of 45,000 to 50,000 people. The Traffic Police issued an advisory announcing restrictions and diversions across key parts of Central Delhi between 10 am and 5 pm.

Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Devesh Srivastava said arrangements had been made in coordination with the organisers to ensure the rally proceeded peacefully.

“As you can see, we are managing the law and order situation, and everything is peaceful; people are coming. So we are in touch with the organisers and all arrangements are in place to see that the arrangement passes peacefully and the rally proceeds with all the required safety and security measures,” he said.

Meanwhile, the BJP launched a counter-mobilisation in West Delhi with a march commemorating the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The party accused the Congress of holding a political rally on the anniversary of the violence.

Union Minister JP Nadda dismissed the INDIA bloc's protest over the SIR exercise and its demand for the CEC's resignation as an “orchestrated drama” by parties that had been repeatedly rejected by voters.

(With ANI inputs)