New Delhi, Oct 2026: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said the INDIA bloc’s mega protest against alleged vote theft and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise would be held as scheduled on November 1 at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, despite appeals from trade associations to postpone the rally.
The Congress-led Opposition alliance is organising the ‘Chalo Delhi March’ to protest against alleged electoral irregularities and raise concerns over the Election Commission’s voter revision exercise. Kharge said opposition parties remained united in their decision to continue the agitation.
Speaking to reporters, the Congress president alleged that the Election Commission, under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, had engaged in actions that undermined voters’ rights. He said the protest would continue with the support of opposition parties.
Kharge said the objective was to make people aware of what the Opposition describes as government misconduct and attempts to deprive eligible voters of their legitimate rights.
“Even tomorrow, there is a mock parliament, and on 1st November, we are organising this, which will see people converging from across the country,” he said, adding that democratic rights required people to raise their voices.
The proposed rally has drawn concerns from traders in the national capital, who have urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to reschedule the march. Several trade associations have warned that a large political gathering during the festive season could disrupt commercial activity, affect customer movement and hurt businesses dependent on seasonal sales.
Traders have reportedly expressed apprehension that traffic restrictions and crowd management arrangements could adversely affect the business environment and the livelihoods of shopkeepers. Their appeals have put the planned protest in focus as preparations continue for the November 1 event.
Earlier on Thursday, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, appealed to citizens to participate in the march at Ramlila Maidan. In a video message posted in Hindi on his social media handle on X, he described the demonstration as a movement to protect democracy, oppose alleged vote theft and safeguard the Constitution.
Gandhi said the protest was not intended to serve the interests of any single political party but was aimed at protecting what he called the soul of India. He also urged student organisations across political affiliations to join the demonstration.
The Congress leader claimed that democratic freedoms and the right to express individual opinions were under threat, and called for wider public participation.
The November 1 protest is part of the INDIA bloc’s broader campaign against alleged electoral irregularities and the SIR process. The Opposition has raised questions about voter inclusion and the protection of eligible citizens’ voting rights, while the Election Commission’s role in the revision exercise remains central to the political dispute.
With Kharge reiterating that the rally would proceed as planned, attention is now on the expected turnout, arrangements in central Delhi and the potential impact on businesses during the festive period.
