Hyderabad, Nov 2026 : Telangana BJP president Ramchandar Rao on Sunday termed the 23-party INDIA bloc rally held in Delhi a “flop show”, alleging that the Opposition failed to draw the crowd it had expected.
Rao said Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders had earlier claimed that around 10 lakh people would attend the rally. However, he alleged that several chairs remained empty and a substantial portion of the venue was vacant.
“The 23-party rally was a flop show in Delhi. Although Rahul Gandhi and others had earlier claimed that 10 lakh people would attend, we saw empty chairs, with half of the ground remaining vacant,” Rao said.
He claimed the turnout showed that people were not supporting leaders who, according to him, were “lying to the nation”.
The remarks came after the BJP and the INDIA bloc held rival marches in the national capital. The Opposition targeted the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls, while the BJP organised a march concerning the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and questioned the timing of the Congress-led ‘Chalo Dilli’ rally.
The Rahul Gandhi-led march, which demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, began at the Minto Road–Connaught Place junction and culminated at Ramlila Maidan, where the INDIA bloc held a rally.
Several Opposition leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, addressed the gathering alongside Rahul Gandhi.
Rao questions choice of rally date
Rao also criticised the Congress for organising the rally on November 1, the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
“On one side, the nation was mourning November 1, which is a day of mourning for Sikhs. While they were mourning, why did the Congress party choose this day?” he asked.
He further said traders were facing difficulties as Diwali approached and questioned the timing of the Opposition’s protest.
Rao alleged that the Congress had failed to provide evidence to support its accusations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
“The Congress party held this rally and protested against Gyanesh Kumar, but they do not have any proof or evidence. It is only an oral statement made by them. Therefore, I think yesterday’s rally was a flop,” he said.
The INDIA bloc rally was organised to raise concerns over alleged electoral-roll irregularities and demand the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. The BJP, meanwhile, used its march to highlight the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and question the Congress’s decision to hold its protest on the anniversary of the violence.
