Today’s INDIA Block Rally: What you should know about the Ramlila Maidan protest

ByTech Word News

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc is organizing a ‘Chalo Dilli’ march demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday (November 1, 2026).

The opposition alliance alleges serious irregularities in the electoral rolls and opposes the Special Intensive Review (SIR) exercise. The mega rally follows the opposition’s symbolic “public impeachment” held on October 31, where it leveled six charges against the CEC, including conspiring with the ruling BJP to steal elections, deleting 13.2 million voters through SIR from the electoral rolls and acting at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Shah and the Home Minister.

November 1 INDIA block assembly announced by Congress leader KC Venugopal on October 5.

When and where is the “Chalo Dilli” rally?

A mega opposition rally is scheduled for Sunday (November 1, 2026) at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. Opposition parties have announced that they will stage a nearly 1.5 km long march from central Delhi to Ramlila Maidan, the venue earmarked for their protest rally. At Ramlila Maidan, a large tricolor canopy has been erected over the main stage for senior opposition leaders, while a second stage is being prepared for representatives of the INDIA Bloc state units. Rows of tents with white canopies were erected, metal barricades were installed to control movement, and temporary platforms were assembled.

Also Read: LIVE Updates from INDIA March

The INDIA bloc called on students, youth, women, workers and members of civil society to join the protest. The Janta Cockroach Party (CJP) and student organizations also extended support for the mobilization.

The demonstration includes:

  • The march will begin at 11 a.m. with a gathering of parliamentarians from the INDIA bloc in the Constitutional Club

  • The march will proceed at 12 noon from Minto Road-Connaught Place junction towards Ramlila Maidan.

  • Key Participants: Top opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee, Hemant Soren, Revanth Reddy, Tejashwi Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav are expected to attend.

BJP at a protest against an opposition march to mark the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence

New Delhi is witnessing a double political gridlock as the ruling BJP has announced to hold a counter-march in West Delhi.

The ruling BJP is launching a counter-offensive with a march in West Delhi to commemorate the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and accused the Congress of holding a political rally to mark the anniversary of the violence.

The BJP march will begin at 11.30 am from Hari Nagar bus depot to West Delhi’s Tilak Nagar metro station, led by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi BJP president and foreign minister Harsh Malhotra, Sardar HS Phoolka, community members Manjinder Singh Banswar Sirsa and Sikh MP Banswar Sirsa

At 10:30 AM, BJP MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney will address the media alongside the victims of the 1984 riots at Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj Sahib.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin is also set to lead a ‘Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao’ march in Haryana’s Rohtak to counter the opposition’s narrative.

Traffic restrictions and diversions

Delhi Traffic Police has implemented strict traffic curbs and diversions across Central Delhi between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM Key diversion points include Netaji Subhash Marg T-Point, Rajghat, Delhi Gate, ITO A-Point, Ajmeri Gate Red Light, Ranjeet Singh Flyover at Barakhamba Road, Bhavound Jinghash, Turkwalan Light and DDUBabouti, Turkwalan Light. Mirdard Chowk. Amid central Delhi shopkeepers’ fears of crowds at rallies, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi publicly urged attendees to support local vendors by buying festival items for Deepavali, Chhath and Bhai Dooj.

The INDIA bloc said it expects up to 10 million people to attend, while Delhi Police expects around 50,000. Ramlila Maidan holds 45,000 to 50,000 people when empty, but its capacity is estimated at 30,000 to 40,000 with chairs, enclosures and designated passages.

More than 4,000 policemen along with units of the Central Armed Police Force are deployed for security and crowd management along the march route and at the venue. The land is divided into 14 zones, each supervised by an officer of the rank of assistant commissioner. More than 200 CCTV cameras, drones and body cameras will be used for surveillance.

(With input from agencies)

Published – 01 Nov 2026 10:56 IST