The battle over India's voter lists has moved onto the streets of Old Delhi. BJP national president Nitin Nabin is leading a "Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy" foot march in Chandni Chowk on Wednesday, October 28, as the ruling party steps up its counter-offensive against the Opposition's campaign over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Similar marches are being held by the BJP across the country on the same day, just four days before the INDIA bloc's big rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan.
Who is marching and where
The BJP announced the programme on its official X handle on Tuesday night, saying Nabin would lead the march in New Delhi. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra, MPs and other senior party leaders are expected to join him. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the chief ministers of BJP-ruled states are expected to take part in similar programmes in their own regions.
Delhi Police has issued a traffic advisory for the rally between 3 pm and 5 pm, asking commuters to avoid the Red Fort stretch during that window.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | BJP "Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy" foot march |
| Date | Wednesday, October 28, 2026 |
| Delhi venue | Chandni Chowk |
| Led by | BJP national president Nitin Nabin |
| Expected participants | CM Rekha Gupta, Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra, MPs |
| Traffic advisory | 3 pm to 5 pm, avoid the Red Fort stretch |
| Opposition event | INDIA bloc "Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao" rally, Ramlila Maidan, November 1 |
| BJP follow-up | Month-long padyatra campaign from November 1 |
The fight behind the march
At the centre of the row is the SIR, the Election Commission's intensive revision of voter lists. Opposition parties allege that the exercise has been used to wrongly remove voters and have questioned the functioning of the Election Commission. The INDIA bloc has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the poll body of failing to address what the Congress calls "vote chori", or vote theft.
Protests against the SIR have been going on in Delhi for weeks. Delhi Police has registered at least 40 FIRs linked to these protests since October 10 and is analysing CCTV footage, according to local reports.
The BJP has rejected the allegations and accuses the Opposition of trying to create unrest. Speaking at a party event in Panaji on Tuesday, Nabin said the campaign was meant to counter the Gandhi family's "working only for its own interests," and described the Congress as "frustrated" and "desperate." Earlier this month, he had accused Opposition leaders of trying to incite tension and said their attempts "will never succeed."
Countdown to November 1
The march is the opening act of a larger plan. From November 1, the same day as the INDIA bloc's Ramlila Maidan rally, the BJP will begin a month-long campaign of synchronised padyatras led by senior leaders, Union ministers and chief ministers in their regions. The aim is to take its message to voters directly and blunt the Opposition's narrative.
The Opposition, for its part, is mobilising hard. Delhi Police has granted permission for the November 1 rally with conditions, including CCTV surveillance, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has called party MPs to the capital. Opposition MPs have also been asked to attend a meeting in Delhi on Friday, October 30.
What it means for voters
For ordinary voters, the political noise has a practical side. Anyone worried about their name in the electoral roll can check their details on the Election Commission's voter services portal or the Voter Helpline app, and contact their Booth Level Officer if there is an error. Claims and objections during a revision have to be filed within the window announced by the poll body, so it is worth checking early rather than waiting for the next election.
What happens next
All eyes are now on November 1, when both sides will be on the streets at the same time: the INDIA bloc at Ramlila Maidan and the BJP with its padyatras. With neither side showing any sign of backing down on the SIR, the contest over India's voter lists looks set to dominate national politics for the rest of the month.
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