INDIA bloc rally ends peacefully in Delhi; Opposition leaders reiterate demand for CEC’s resignation

New Delhi: The INDIA bloc’s rally against alleged electoral irregularities concluded peacefully at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, with police reporting no major law-and-order incident despite a heavy security deployment. Opposition leaders used the gathering to intensify their criticism of the Election Commission and reiterate their demand for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of manipulating electoral rolls and alleged that 15 per cent of voters had been removed after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He warned that the Opposition would not allow the Constitution to be weakened and said it would continue its campaign against alleged “vote chori”.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also targeted the BJP and the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Banerjee vowed to continue the fight against the exercise, while Yadav accused the BJP of failing to address issues such as inflation, farmers’ income and corruption.

Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge also backed the campaign against alleged voter deletions. Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge questioned changes to Form 6 procedures and the alleged bulk distribution of Form 7, while demanding accountability from the Election Commission. Congress leaders Sachin Pilot and Abhishek Manu Singhvi reiterated the demand for Gyanesh Kumar to step down.

The rally was held under the banner of ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’, with opposition parties alleging that electoral roll revisions were being used to undermine voters’ rights. The Election Commission has not been shown to have accepted these allegations in the material provided.

Police said more than 4,000 personnel were deployed in and around the venue, which was divided into 14 security zones. More than 200 CCTV cameras, drones, body-worn cameras and anti-riot vehicles were used to monitor the gathering. Central Armed Police Forces personnel were also deployed, while additional traffic staff managed movement across the city.

A senior police officer said the rally passed off smoothly, with no major law-and-order or traffic-related incident reported. The gathering was permitted between 10 am and 5 pm.