UPDATED: Nov 1, 2026 12:09 ISTCongress leader Rahul Gandhi issued a renewed 'Chalo Dilli' appeal urging the public and party cadres to gather at Connaught Place and Minto Road for a massive march towards Ramlila Maidan. The protest march brings together key leaders, MPs, party chiefs, and cadres across the INDIA bloc alongside civil society groups.
Leaders participating in the agitation asserted that the national movement unites diverse political parties to safeguard the Constitution, democracy, and voting rights. They criticised the Election Commission over alleged voter exclusions, demanding a clean election register and accountability.
Conversely, the Bharatiya Janata Party called the demonstration an anarchy overdrive in the national capital, organising its own counter-protest and accusing the opposition of trivialising democratic institutions through demonstrations and mock proceedings. Opposition figures maintained that taking the issue to the public forum became essential after opportunities to raise grievances in Parliament, with the President, or before the Supreme Court were obstructed.
Read MoreVIDEOS FROM OTHER SECTIONSLATEST VIDEOSDelhi Face-Off: Congress Tearing BJP Posters, Rival Marches Spark ClashA political showdown erupted in Delhi ahead of planned parallel marches by the Opposition and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Visuals from Minto Road showed Congress workers tearing down Bharatiya Janata Party hoardings depicting 1984 anti-Sikh riot atrocities.
The incident occurred prior to Rahul Gandhi's scheduled march towards Ramlila Maidan, while the Bharatiya Janata Party organised a counter-march from Hari Nagar to Tilak Nagar to commemorate the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence. Leaders including Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had earlier criticised the Congress for organising political demonstrations between 1 November and 4 November, stating that the period is traditionally observed in prayer and community service by the Sikh community.
Massive crowds of Bharatiya Janata Party workers gathered in Hari Nagar ahead of their march, while tensions escalated across the capital over the vandalised posters.Delhi Traders Warn Of Losses Ahead Of Opposition Rally As Markets Near Ramlila Maidan ShutDelhi traders have raised serious concerns ahead of the Opposition rally at Ramlila Maidan, warning of massive business losses during the festive season. The Chamber of Trade and Industry wrote a fourth letter to Rahul Gandhi requesting the rally be postponed until after Diwali.
According to the traders' body, nearly 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh shops across key central and old Delhi markets, including Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Connaught Place, and Khari Baoli, face severe disruption, with around 80 percent of shops remaining shut. Rahul Gandhi urged protesters arriving from outside the capital to support local shopkeepers by making purchases, claiming the rally would not hurt businesses.
However, trader associations remain unconvinced, pointing out that heavy traffic congestion and barricaded routes prevent shoppers from reaching the markets, completely halting festive commerce.INDIA Bloc Rally: Opposition Leaders Assemble in Delhi Ahead of March to Ramlila MaidanLeaders from several opposition parties in the INDIA bloc gathered in New Delhi ahead of a planned march to Ramlila Maidan. Senior political figures assembled at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence and the Constitution Club before moving towards Minto Road Junction.
The demonstration was organized following calls by Rahul Gandhi and opposition constituents demanding free and fair elections, alongside the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Party leaders, including Kumari Selja, Sanjay Raut, and N.K.
Premachandran, addressed the gathering, countering accusations of creating anarchy by pointing to previous nationwide movements and insisting on the preservation of democratic rights. Key demands highlighted by the opposition camp include the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner, the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision exercise, and the reinstatement of deleted voter entries across electoral rolls.
Supporter mobilizations were reported as political delegations prepared to advance towards the protest site.INDIA Bloc Rally at Ramlila Maidan, Left Parties Mobilise, CEC Resignation DemandSupporters and political cadres from across India gathered in massive numbers at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan for a mega rally organised by the opposition INDIA bloc. The demonstration witnessed participation from multiple political groups, including Congress and Left parties such as the CPI and allied trade unions, who marched towards the venue carrying banners and placards.
Ahead of the formal address by opposition leaders, supporters from various states showcased regional cultural traditions, including Himachal Pradesh Congress workers performing the Kullavi Nati. At the core of the political mobilisation are allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision process and demands from opposition leaders seeking the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
Concurrently, political reactions emerged targeting the opposition for staging demonstrations on the streets, accusing them of creating deadlock and undermining constitutional institutions instead of debating inside Parliament.