New Delhi: The INDIA bloc is gearing up for a major rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, November 1, to protest alleged electoral irregularities, oppose the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The mobilisation, titled ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’, will include a march from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction to Ramlila Maidan at noon.
The rally is scheduled between 10 am and 5 pm. Senior opposition leaders are expected to travel in open buses from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence to the march’s starting point.
The rally is expected to bring together opposition parties, workers, students and civil society groups.
The Indian Youth Congress has projected participation by more than 20,000 workers, while organisers have indicated a possible turnout of up to 10 lakh. Delhi Police estimates attendance at around 50,000.
More than 4,000 police personnel and Central Armed Police Forces companies will be deployed. The venue has been divided into 14 security zones, with over 200 CCTV cameras, drones and body-worn cameras monitoring the gathering.
Traffic restrictions will remain in force in parts of Delhi from 10 am to 5 pm, with diversions around ITO, Delhi Gate, Rajghat, Ajmeri Gate and Turkman Gate.
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Trade and Industry has urged Sonia Gandhi to seek postponement of the rally until after Diwali, warning that restrictions could affect business worth Rs 10,000-12,000 crore across nearly 20 markets.
The mobilisation follows the INDIA bloc’s symbolic public impeachment proceedings against Kumar at Kharge’s residence on Saturday. The exercise was not a formal constitutional impeachment.
