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INDIA bloc holds rally in Delhi to protest electoral roll revision

What happened

Thousands of opposition supporters from across North India gathered at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on November 1 for the 'Chalo Delhi' march.

Leaders of the INDIA bloc, including Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, and Akhilesh Yadav, used the rally to criticize the Election Commission and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Protesters alleged electoral irregularities, with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor specifically opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and claiming that 130 million voters were removed.

Why it matters

The protest highlights a deepening confrontation between the opposition alliance and the Election Commission, as the INDIA bloc seeks to challenge the integrity of the electoral roll revision process and the leadership of the Chief Election Commissioner.

Context

The Election Commission has defended the SIR exercise, stating that it involved extensive oversight from over 20 lakh political party-nominated Booth Level Agents and millions of administrative staff, and that the 13 crore figure cited by critics refers to entries flagged for verification rather than permanent deletions.

The Election Commission of India has faced prior accusations of collusion with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party during the 2025 and 2026 electoral cycles.

Sources 6 sources