INDIA bloc rally: Huge crowd at Ramlila Maidan ahead of march, CJP says it will stay away

Large crowds began assembling at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on Sunday ahead of the INDIA bloc's 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' rally against alleged electoral irregularities, with a protest march scheduled to start at noon, even as Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke said his organisation would support the cause but not join the planned Opposition demonstration.

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Supporters of several Opposition parties reached the venue from early morning, while other groups assembled at different points in the national capital before heading towards the ground. Party workers from outside Delhi also arrived for the demonstration, which is part of the alliance's campaign against alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls.

INDIA bloc rally in Delhi: March route and timings

The march, called 'Chalo Dilli', is scheduled to begin at the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction at 12 noon and end at Ramlila Maidan. The programme at the venue is scheduled to continue until 5 pm.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav are among the leaders expected to take part. The alliance has called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

Why Abhijeet Dipke's CJP will not attend INDIA bloc rally

Dipke, who met former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Delhi on Saturday, said the CJP would not take part in the INDIA bloc event because it intended to preserve its independent identity.

"We fully support the protest that is going to take place tomorrow. We support it in solidarity. However, our organisation is an independent and neutral platform, and we want to keep it that way," he said after the meeting.

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INDIA bloc's allegations against Election Commission over SIR

The INDIA bloc has accused the Election Commission of allowing wrongful deletions of voters' names during the SIR exercise. It has also questioned the functioning of the poll panel and the role of the chief election commissioner.

The Election Commission has rejected allegations of wrongdoing. In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court on October 26, it defended the revision exercise as lawful and said its decisions were taken unanimously by the three commissioners.

A day before Sunday's rally, Opposition leaders held a symbolic 'public impeachment' programme against CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Kharge's residence, where they adopted a resolution setting out their accusations. The event was not a parliamentary impeachment proceeding.

Delhi Police tighten security around Ramlila Maidan

Police have deployed more than 10,000 personnel, backed by central forces, around the venue and along the march route. More than 200 CCTV cameras, drones and designated security enclosures have been arranged, while traffic restrictions are in place in parts of central Delhi from 10 am to 5 pm.

Delhi Police have made arrangements for an estimated attendance of about 50,000, while INDIA bloc organisers have projected a much larger turnout. The BJP, meanwhile, has rejected the Opposition's charges and announced separate demonstrations against the alliance.

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