New Delhi: Supporters of various INDIA bloc parties gathered at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday for the Opposition alliance’s ‘Chalo Dilli’ protest against alleged electoral irregularities and to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Senior leaders, including Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby, assembled at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence before proceeding in an open bus to Minto Road. From there, they were to lead a march to Ramlila Maidan, where a rally was scheduled.
Party workers and supporters from across the country raised slogans against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and displayed placards alleging ‘vote chori’. The INDIA bloc has accused the Election Commission of large-scale deletion of voters’ names.
The alliance said it expected up to 10 lakh participants, while Delhi Police estimated a turnout of around 50,000. More than 4,000 police personnel, along with Central Armed Police Forces, were deployed for security and crowd management. CCTV cameras, drones and body-worn cameras were also arranged for surveillance.
The protest follows a symbolic ‘public impeachment’ of Kumar organised by the INDIA bloc at Kharge’s residence on Saturday. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar presided over the proceedings, during which the Opposition adopted a resolution listing its allegations against the CEC.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had urged protesters travelling to Delhi to support local traders by shopping ahead of Diwali, Chhath and Bhai Dooj.