‘If 2024 polls were illegal, Rahul Gandhi & Congress MPs are illegal too’: BJP targets INDIA bloc Ramlila Maidan rally

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the INDIA bloc’s rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, questioning his claim that 10 lakh people would attend the gathering and alleging that nearly 40 per cent of the venue remained vacant.

BJP MP Sambit Patra accused the Congress and its allies of exaggerating the turnout, saying that despite bringing together several opposition parties and their supporters, the INDIA bloc had failed to draw the numbers it had projected.

At a press conference in Delhi, Patra cited visuals from the rally to back his claim that a significant portion of the ground was empty.

He also targeted Gandhi over his remarks on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress’s allegations against the Election Commission and the timing of the protest.

#WATCH | Delhi: BJP MP Sambit Patra says, "We have been observing this rally organised by the INDI bloc since morning and listening closely to Rahul Gandhi's speech. But in the end, it felt like a complete waste of time." https://t.co/JftX2xNUt7

— ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2026

‘Where were the 10 lakh people?’: Sambit Patra questions rally turnout

Patra claimed that around 40 per cent of Ramlila Maidan was vacant during the rally, despite the Congress leadership projecting an attendance of 10 lakh people.

“You can see in the background that 40 per cent of the Ramlila Maidan, 40% of the space, was vacant. Rahul Gandhi and his team claimed that 10 lakh people would attend. Out of 28,000 chairs, around 5,000–7,000 were empty at 3:30–4 PM. This is the reality behind Congress’s claim of 10 lakh attendees,” he said.

The BJP leader challenged the Congress to substantiate its turnout claim.

“Where were the 10 lakh people? Show us. No one becomes a leader or Prime Minister through such tricks. PM doesn’t just mean Prime Minister. P stands for Paseena (sweat) and M stands for Mehnat (hard work). A Prime Minister is made through sweat and hard work. Despite bringing together so many parties and flags, they could not manage to gather 10 lakh people,” Patra said.

The INDIA bloc had organised the rally at Ramlila Maidan as part of its campaign against alleged electoral irregularities and its demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

‘Infiltrators are Mamata Banerjee, Rahul Gandhi’s vote bank’

Patra also accused opposition leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi, of relying on infiltrators as their vote bank.

“Infiltrators are the vote bank of Mamata Banerjee, Rahul Gandhi and their allies. Only Indian citizens can be voters in India. Infiltrators cannot be voters in India,” he said.

Responding to criticism from Banerjee, Patra said the BJP would continue to act against what it described as illegal infiltration.

“Mamata Banerjee can call us cowards or use any name from the dictionary. It does not matter. We are brave, and we will do whatever it takes for the country. Infiltrators entering the country, becoming voters and ruling India while we sit silently will absolutely never happen,” he said.

BJP questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on 2024 election

The BJP leader also challenged Rahul Gandhi’s assertion that the 2024 Lok Sabha election was illegal, pointing out that Gyanesh Kumar was not part of the Election Commission during that election and became an Election Commissioner only in 2025.

Patra argued that if the 2024 election was illegal, Gandhi’s position as Leader of the Opposition and the status of Congress MPs would also be called into question.

“Rahul Gandhi said 2024 election was illegal. Gyanesh Kumar was not even there during the 2024 elections. He became the Election Commissioner in 2025. If the 2024 election was illegal, then Rahul Gandhi is also an illegal Leader of Opposition, and all his MPs are illegal,” he said.

He urged Gandhi and the Congress to challenge the election in court rather than make such allegations at a public rally.

“If an election is illegal, challenge it in court. Show me a single petition filed by Rahul Gandhi, Congress or any INDIA bloc party challenging the 2024 election. You cannot declare an election illegal two and a half years later at Ramlila Maidan,” Patra said.

Patra slams rally on 1984 anti-Sikh violence anniversary

Patra also criticised the INDIA bloc for holding the rally on a day associated with the 1984 anti-Sikh violence, alleging that the Congress leadership had shown insensitivity towards the victims and survivors.

“Approximately 5,000 Sikhs were killed on this day. Sikhs were dragged out of their homes and burnt alive on the streets. Yet Rahul Gandhi chose this very day for the Ramlila Maidan rally. Only Rahul Gandhi can show such insensitivity,” he said.

Patra claimed that survivors had repeatedly appealed to Gandhi to postpone the rally by a day or two, but he had refused.

He also referred to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s controversial remark following the violence.

“Rajiv Gandhi ji had said, ‘When a big tree falls, the earth shakes.’ Today, they want to bring down another big tree, the democracy and Constitution of India,” Patra said.

‘This India does not belong to your abbu jaan’

In another pointed attack, Patra accused Gandhi of treating the country as though it belonged to his family, saying that India’s democratic system allowed ordinary citizens to rise to the highest positions.

“Rahul Gandhi ji, this India does not belong to your Abbu Jaan. This India belongs to the people of India. Even a tea seller can become Prime Minister and an ordinary person can become Home Minister in this democracy. And that is what bothers you,” he said.

Patra also mocked Gandhi’s political messaging, drawing a comparison with the religious procession associated with Lord Shiva.

“Rahul Gandhi ji, you are neither Shiv nor is the chaos you want to plunge India into any ‘Shiv Ji Ki Baraat’. This is not Shiv Ji’s Baraat. This is nothing but a spectacle of chaos,” he said.

Patra takes dig at Gandhi’s shopping plans

Patra also took a swipe at Gandhi over his remarks about shopping in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, referring to reports of the Congress leader’s overseas travel.

“Have you ever seen Rahul Gandhi ji shopping in Chandni Chowk? Look at his passport, the Vietnam stamp is already there, and so is the Bangkok, Thailand stamp. He said he would go shopping, but he never said he would shop here. Where he will go shopping, everyone sitting here already knows,” Patra said.

The BJP leader said he had been following the INDIA bloc’s rally and listening to Gandhi’s speech throughout the day, but dismissed the event as a waste of time.

“We have been observing this rally organised by the INDI bloc since morning and listening closely to Rahul Gandhi’s speech. But in the end, it felt like a complete waste of time,” he said.

The BJP’s remarks came as the INDIA bloc continued its campaign against alleged electoral irregularities, with opposition leaders demanding accountability from the Election Commission and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

(with ANI inputs)