Indian opposition to rally in Delhi on 1 November, demanding election chief quit

Security tightens around the venue

Authorities have turned central Delhi into a fortress before the Congress-led rally at Ramlila Maidan, which is due to begin at noon on Sunday, 1 November. Riot-control vehicles have been deployed and hundreds of barricades have been set up across the capital. Security personnel carrying batons and shields have surrounded the designated site, while Delhi traffic police have warned of diversions and expect a large gathering at the venue. The state has also detained students, protest leaders, politicians and journalists ahead of the event.

A voter roll revision at the centre of the dispute

The rally targets a nationwide revision of voter lists, known as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which began last year. That exercise removed more than 130 million names from the rolls, including 28 million people who had died, 63 million who had moved and 30 million who could not be located. In September the Indian Express reported that two deputies of the chief election commissioner had privately raised concerns about the revision, registration procedures and digital systems. The Election Commission denies favouring any party and says voters who were wrongly removed can re-enrol. The BJP has accused the opposition of undermining democracy by questioning legitimate electoral processes, while the opposition alleges the exclusions could benefit Narendra Modi's party. Critics claim the deletions fall hardest on Muslim voters and other minorities.

Mock impeachment and the opposition's demands

On Saturday, 31 October, opposition MPs staged a symbolic public impeachment of Gyanesh Kumar at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, with six charges read out in a session run along parliamentary lines. Kharge moved the motion and accused Kumar of putting voters' rights at risk and acting on the prime minister's instructions. Under the law, a chief election commissioner can be removed only by a two-thirds majority in Parliament, and opposition parties say the speaker has not admitted their impeachment notices. Rahul Gandhi said the people's voice is not heard in Parliament, which is why the opposition has to gather outside it. The Cockroach Janta Party, a youth-led group, has backed the rally, although it said its support does not mean joining Congress or endorsing its full political programme.

Turnout expectations and the route

Organisers expect hundreds of thousands of people, and the opposition says the number could reach a million, a figure also put forward by John Brittas, a CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member. Police officials have given a much lower estimate of 50,000. The opposition has announced a march of nearly 1.5 km from central Delhi to Ramlila Maidan. Labourers worked overnight on Saturday to prepare the open-air venue, which was still waterlogged from earlier rain. Congress has arranged transport for supporters from several states, and Rahul Gandhi has asked visitors to shop with Delhi traders during the festival season.

Organisers' expectation (up to)1,000,000

Police estimate50,000

Organisers' expectation (up to)

1000000 people

Police estimate

50000 people

Data from the article text

What comes next

The rally is scheduled to begin at noon on Sunday, 1 November, and will be followed by the march from central Delhi. The opposition wants the election commissioner removed, but the Election Commission and the BJP have rejected the allegations against it. The next general election is not due until 2029, and the government remains stable.