'Massive turnout at Ramlila Maidan,' says Congress; Rahul reiterates, 'Gyanesh will go to jail' | LIVE

Addressing the INDIA bloc’s mega rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday (November 1, 2026), Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “stealing votes” and said legal action would be taken against him. He asserted that the Opposition would continue its fight to ensure accountability and justice.

Earlier, senior INDIA bloc leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee, marched in an open bus from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence to the venue for the rally, which demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.

The rally drew supporters and party workers from across the capital. Also read | ‘Remove Modi to save democracy’: Congress chief Kharge attacks PM at INDIA bloc rally Central Delhi’s roads and walls bore the marks of protest in the aftermath of the INDIA bloc rally on Sunday evening (November 1, 2026), with spray-painted slogans — including “Vote chor, gaddi chor”, “Rollback SIR”, and “Illegal PM” —splashed along Minto Road, amid the flotsam and jetsam of discarded plastic bottles, torn placards, and other waste.

The bloc carried out a symbolic “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, unanimously adopting a motion by a show of hands on Saturday (October 31). Also read | PM Modi, HM Shah will face legal action for ‘vote chori’, will not be able to escape law: Rahul Gandhi They levelled six charges against him, including conspiring with the ruling BJP to steal elections, deleting 13.2 crore voters through the special intensive revision (SIR) of voter lists, and acting at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora criticised INDIA bloc parties over alleged dynastic and monarchical functioning, saying they must first ensure internal democracy before claiming to defend the country’s democracy. After the INDIA bloc rally, Delhi streets and Ramlila Maidan show litter, slogans, rain-muddied grounds, and waste-collectors profiting from discarded bottles.

Former Keralam CM Pinarayi Vijayan called the INDIA bloc’s Ramlila Maidan protest a fight to protect democracy and the right to vote. He demanded CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, an end to alleged voter deletions under SIR, transparent elections and the restoration of ballot papers.

Rahul Gandhi thanked people for turning out in record numbers at the INDIA bloc’s rally against alleged ‘vote chori’, saying the groundswell of support would ensure democracy and truth prevail. Chamber of Trade and Industry chairman Brijesh Goyal says the Delhi traders’ body estimates that businesses suffered losses of over Rs 10,000 crore due to the rally at Ramlila Maidan.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi over the INDIA bloc’s mock Parliament session, saying he would remain a “mock” Prime Minister. He also accused the Congress of questioning constitutional institutions after electoral defeats and cited its victories in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand.

Keralam CM V.D. Satheesan said the large turnout at Ramlila Maidan reflected the spirit of a collective fight to safeguard democracy. Describing himself as a small part of the gathering, he said the rally represented a larger movement.

The Janata Dal (United) questioned the unity of opposition parties at the INDIA bloc rally here, saying they come together for rallies and meetings but contest elections against each other. The party asserted that an alliance without consensus on leadership, common agenda and issues has no justification to continue.

Congress MP and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi described the INDIA bloc’s mega rally as a success, claiming the large turnout had frustrated the BJP. Akhilesh Yadav calls Ramlila Maidan the "Haldighati of democracy," alleging electoral roll manipulation and promising political change against the Centre.

BJP MP Sambit Patra claimed that nearly 40% of Ramlila Maidan was vacant during the INDIA bloc rally. He also pointed to empty chairs and questioned the Congress’s claim that 10 lakh people had attended the event.