Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has asked every party MP to stay in Delhi from October 30 to November 1, 2026, as the opposition INDIA bloc gears up for its biggest show of strength yet against the Election Commission. In a written message to MPs on Sunday, Kharge said “all MPs are requested to be present in Delhi” on those three days, which will end with a mega rally at Ramlila Maidan.
The protests centre on the opposition's allegation of “vote chori” – vote theft – linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and on its demand that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar step down.
The three-day plan
According to an announcement by Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, the programme has two big moments:
- October 30 – ‘public impeachment’ of the CEC: a mock Parliament at Hotel Ashok in Delhi, where opposition MPs and senior leaders are expected to deliver a symbolic verdict against Gyanesh Kumar.
- November 1 – ‘Save the Vote, Save the Country’ Jan March and Mega Rally: a ‘Dilli Chalo’ march to Ramlila Maidan followed by a rally that Congress is calling the bloc's largest event so far.
Venugopal said the people's verdict to remove the CEC would be “delivered loud and clear.” Kharge has also reached out to other INDIA bloc parties to ensure their leaders are present on both days.
Rahul Gandhi's appeal
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi posted on X on Sunday, urging students, farmers, labourers, women, youth and traders to join the November 1 rally. He alleged that names had been removed from voter lists, that rules and laws had been broken, and that force had been used against those asking questions. “Our votes are being stolen, and we will not tolerate this quietly under any circumstances,” he wrote, signing off with “November 1 – Let's go to Delhi.”
Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba has said the party is aiming for 10 lakh participants and has rejected suggestions to postpone the rally because of the festive season.
Background: why the opposition is targeting the CEC
The row goes back to the SIR exercise, under which voter lists in several states are being re-verified. Opposition parties allege that lakhs of names have been deleted in the process and accuse the poll body of acting unfairly. On October 12, opposition leaders and civil society groups held a ‘March for Democracy’ to the Supreme Court and filed a joint petition against SIR.
The campaign has also played out on Delhi's streets. Last week, more than 100 protesters were detained during an anti-SIR march in the capital. The Election Commission has not responded to the latest announcements in the reports carried by news agencies, and the allegations remain contested.
Traders push back on timing
Not everyone is happy about a mega rally weeks before Diwali. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), backed by several Delhi market associations, launched an online petition on Sunday asking for designated protest venues on the city's outskirts. Traders say frequent rallies in central Delhi disrupt customers, deliveries and daily earnings, while stressing that they are “not opposed to peaceful protests.”
Separately, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) wrote to Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, requesting that the November 1 rally be pushed to after November 10 because of the festive trading season.
Key facts
| Directive | All Congress MPs to stay in Delhi, Oct 30 – Nov 1 |
| Issued by | Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge |
| October 30 | Mock ‘public impeachment’ of CEC at Hotel Ashok |
| November 1 | ‘Save the Vote, Save the Country’ rally, Ramlila Maidan |
| Main demand | Resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over SIR |
| Target turnout | 10 lakh (Mahila Congress) |
| Traders' ask | Postpone rally / designated protest sites |
What it means for Delhi residents
If the rally goes ahead as planned, expect heavy traffic and possible diversions around central Delhi, especially near Ramlila Maidan, Connaught Place, Daryaganj and the old city markets on November 1. Delhi Traffic Police usually issue advisories a day or two before such events, so commuters and shoppers should keep an eye on them.
What happens next
All eyes will be on turnout at Hotel Ashok on October 30 and at Ramlila Maidan two days later, and on whether the Election Commission or the government responds. The Supreme Court petition against SIR also remains pending, and its outcome could shape how long this fight runs.
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