India Bloc Rally at Ramlila Maidan Today: Can Opposition Turn Its Campaign Against Election Commission into Mass Support?

The Opposition's campaign over the functioning of the Election Commission of India and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has now reached Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. The INDIA bloc is scheduled to hold a rally on Sunday, November 1, with Congress and its alliance partners seeking to put pressure on the government and the Election Commission while demanding the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner.

On October 30, CPI(M) MP John Brittas reviewed preparations at Ramlila Maidan and claimed that 10 lakh people would reach Delhi to participate in the rally. However, this figure represents the organisers' expectation and should not be treated as the actual number of people attending the event.

A day before the rally, on October 31, the Opposition organised a symbolic Parliament at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. A resolution demanding the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner was passed during the event. Rahul Gandhi alleged that people's voices were not being given adequate space in Parliament, forcing the Opposition to raise its concerns outside the House.

What Does the Opposition Want to Communicate from Ramlila Maidan?

Congress has been preparing to bring party workers and supporters from different states to Delhi. Rahul Gandhi has also appealed to students, social organisations and members of the public to participate in the rally.

According to senior journalist Sharad Gupta, the Opposition wants to convey that after failing to advance its demands sufficiently within Parliament, it is now seeking public support on the issue. He believes that the symbolic Parliament and the Ramlila Maidan rally should be viewed as parts of the same political campaign.

Gupta also believes that public attention towards political issues may decline during festival periods. The Opposition, therefore, wants to keep the campaign in public discussion so that questions concerning the Election Commission and SIR do not disappear from the national debate.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Trade and Industry had appealed to Sonia Gandhi to postpone the rally. The business organisation expressed concern that the event could affect business activity in Delhi, potentially impacting trade worth around ₹12,000 crore.

Delhi Police, however, issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the rally. According to a report by The Indian Express, the police said they would coordinate with the organisers and relevant agencies regarding security and arrangements.

Delhi Congress has formed 20 committees to manage the event. It faces two major challenges: bringing Congress workers and alliance partners together on one platform, and taking the campaign beyond regular political supporters to people who do not usually participate in political meetings or protests.

BJP Questions Congress's Campaign

While the Opposition is raising questions about the Election Commission and SIR, the BJP and leaders of the central government have challenged Congress to explain its allegations concerning election results and electoral rolls.

On October 31, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju questioned Congress over its electoral defeats in elections held before Gyanesh Kumar became the Chief Election Commissioner. He also asked the party to clarify its position on removing the names of deceased, shifted and duplicate voters from electoral rolls.

Earlier, on October 30, Union Home Minister Amit Shah challenged the Opposition to discuss SIR in Parliament during a BJP state executive committee meeting in Lucknow. He also spoke about the possibility of a special session, although this did not amount to a formal announcement that such a session would be convened.

Shah accused the Opposition of undermining parliamentary dignity by organising a symbolic Parliament outside the legislature. Comparing the Opposition's criticism of the Election Commission to a team blaming an umpire after losing a match, he questioned its response to electoral defeats.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda also accused Congress of putting pressure on constitutional institutions. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra questioned why Congress's booth-level representatives had not raised objections locally if the party suspected irregularities in electoral rolls.

The dispute between the Opposition and the BJP is therefore not limited to the role of the Election Commission. Both sides are questioning each other over electoral roll procedures, election results and the accountability of democratic institutions.

What Happened During the Symbolic Parliament?

The symbolic Parliament was held on October 31 at Mallikarjun Kharge's residence under the chairpersonship of former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad and Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy served as vice-chairpersons.

During the event, Kharge moved a resolution against the Chief Election Commissioner. It referred to six allegations concerning purported irregularities in electoral rolls and questions about impartiality. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, along with Opposition MPs and representatives of social and youth organisations, also participated.

In his concluding address, Rahul Gandhi alleged that Parliament was not providing sufficient space for people's voices. Senior journalist Rashid Kidwai has linked such events to older forms of symbolic political protest, including street plays and demonstrations, which have traditionally been used to communicate political issues to the public.

However, a resolution passed during a symbolic Parliament has no constitutional or legal effect. The event is a political expression of the Opposition's protest and demands.

Why Has the Demand to Remove the Chief Election Commissioner Not Advanced in Parliament?

The Opposition had earlier attempted to initiate the formal parliamentary process for removing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

On March 12, 2026, notices bearing the signatures of 130 Lok Sabha MPs and 63 Rajya Sabha MPs were submitted seeking his removal. However, on April 6, the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman did not admit the notices. As a result, the matter did not proceed to discussion and voting in the Houses.

The removal of a Chief Election Commissioner follows a procedure different from an ordinary political resolution. It must comply with the process laid down under the Constitution and relevant laws.

At least 100 members of the Lok Sabha or 50 members of the Rajya Sabha must sign a notice seeking removal. However, submitting a notice alone does not complete the process. The motion must subsequently be passed in both Houses by the prescribed special majority.

Therefore, the symbolic resolution passed at Kharge's residence cannot be treated as equivalent to formal parliamentary action.

Election Commission and Opposition Disagree Over SIR

A major issue behind the Opposition's campaign is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Opposition alleges that the exercise could lead to the removal of eligible voters' names and has raised questions about the Election Commission's functioning.

The Election Commission, on the other hand, told the Supreme Court in an affidavit filed on October 26 that all three orders relating to SIR had been issued with the consent of all its members.

The Commission also stated that Form 6, used for voter registration, had not been changed. According to the Commission, the declaration form used for SIR is a separate document.

It further clarified that any addition, deletion or modification of a voter's name requires an order from the concerned Electoral Registration Officer.

The Supreme Court gave the petitioners 10 days to respond to the Commission's affidavit. The matter, therefore, remains part of an ongoing judicial process.

West Bengal Figures Add to the Debate

West Bengal has also become an important part of the political debate surrounding SIR.

Around 60.06 lakh voters in the state had been marked for verification. Following scrutiny by judicial officers, a decision was taken to remove 27.16 lakh names.

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien demanded the cancellation of results in 31 Assembly constituencies. His argument was that the number of voters removed in these constituencies was higher than the respective victory margins.

The Election Commission responded that the Trinamool Congress had also won 21 constituencies where the victory margin was lower than the number of names removed following judicial scrutiny. It further stated that election results cannot be cancelled merely on the basis of changes in electoral rolls; the prescribed election petition process must be followed.

The dispute highlights that concerns over SIR go beyond the number of names removed. Questions are also being raised about the procedure, appeals and the possible impact of electoral roll revisions on election results.

What Could CJP's Support Mean for the Rally?

Amid the ongoing controversy over the Election Commission, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has also extended support to the INDIA bloc rally.

In a statement issued on October 28, the organisation expressed concern over the possibility of eligible voters being removed during SIR and reiterated its demand for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.

CJP founder Abhijeet Deepke announced the organisation's support for the rally on social media. However, an organisation supporting a particular rally does not necessarily mean that it has joined Congress or agrees with its entire political programme.

According to senior journalist Rashid Kidwai, participation by young people, intellectuals, social organisations and ordinary citizens is important for expanding the reach of such campaigns. CJP's support also brings the question of broader participation into focus.

Can the Rally Turn Political Opposition into Wider Public Support?

The biggest challenge before Congress and the INDIA bloc is to take their campaign beyond party workers and alliance supporters. Bringing a large crowd to a rally is one aspect; ensuring that ordinary voters understand the questions being raised about the Election Commission and SIR is another.

According to Sharad Gupta, the Opposition wants to keep the issue in public discussion. Rashid Kidwai, meanwhile, considers participation by social organisations and ordinary citizens important for expanding the campaign's reach.

At present, the Opposition is demanding the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner and questioning the SIR process. Its notices in Parliament were not admitted, while the resolution passed during the symbolic Parliament has no legal effect.

The Ramlila Maidan rally is now an attempt to demonstrate public support for these demands.

Beyond the number of people attending, the larger question is whether the Opposition can turn its concerns into a wider public debate and sustain the campaign in the days ahead.