Rahul Gandhi Leads Delhi Rally Against Voter Roll Revision

India's opposition parties have mobilized tens of thousands of demonstrators at Ramlila Maidan in central Delhi on Sunday, November 1, 2026, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over an electoral roll revision that has removed 130 million names from draft voter lists.

Organized by the INDIA bloc and led by Rahul Gandhi's Congress party, the demonstration represents growing opposition resistance to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Gandhi was seen traveling toward the rally venue in an open-top jeep alongside other opposition leaders. The Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has also pledged support, although its leaders had not appeared at the venue.

The ECI says the revision aims to update electoral records by removing the names of deceased individuals and people who have moved away from their registered addresses. Opposition parties, however, allege that the process could eliminate eligible voters and benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The opposition has accused the election chief and the BJP of involvement in alleged electoral manipulation, describing the issue as:

"vote chori (theft)" the opposition parties alleged.

Both the BJP and the ECI have rejected the accusations. The controversy intensified after The Indian Express reported in September that Gyanesh Kumar made important decisions concerning the revision without agreement from the other two election commissioners, who had raised objections more than a dozen times.

The ECI responded that disagreements were normal within institutions and did not interfere with its operations.

Before Sunday's demonstration, INDIA bloc leaders conducted a symbolic impeachment proceeding against Kumar at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence on Saturday. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar presided over the mock parliamentary session.

During the proceedings, opposition leaders accused the election chief of:

"conspiring to steal elections" the leaders alleged.

Kharge, who also leads the opposition in India's upper parliamentary chamber, introduced a symbolic motion seeking Kumar's removal. He accused the election chief of undermining the electoral process and committing:

"treason against the nation and the Constitution of India" Kharge said.

Several people whose names were removed during the revision attended the proceedings. However, the exercise had no legal authority. Indian law requires a formal parliamentary process to remove a chief election commissioner.

Modi addressed the controversy during two public appearances. Speaking at a rally on Friday, he accused unnamed individuals of seeking to create nationwide disorder.

"some people" wanted to create chaos across the country so that he could be defamed, Modi said.

During another rally on Saturday, Modi criticized opposition parties, accusing them of:

"abandoning their duty" and "tearing apart the dignity and boundaries of the constitution" Modi said.

Gandhi had previously led thousands of demonstrators from Connaught Place to the Supreme Court in Delhi during a protest last month, calling for Kumar's resignation. Ahead of Sunday's gathering, a Congress leader described the earlier demonstration as:

"The march was just the trailer," the party leader told the BBC.

The same leader predicted a larger turnout at the next demonstration.

"Sunday's rally will be several times bigger than that" the party leader added.

Gandhi said the protest concerned what he described as:

"the demolition of Indian democracy" Gandhi said.

He also invited political parties and members of the public to participate in the demonstration.

"all the opposition parties and everybody who wants to come, political or non-political, is welcome" Gandhi said.

Explaining the public response, Gandhi highlighted concerns about voters losing their electoral rights.

"There is huge anger, huge emotional pain because millions are being disenfranchised," Gandhi said.

He emphasized that opposition parties were united in their position on electoral rights and constitutional protections.

"We are all standing together because we are defending the Constitution. We are defending the idea of India. We are defending the vote, which is the expression of all Indians." Gandhi said.

Delhi police authorized Sunday's rally subject to several restrictions. According to media reports, organizers must end the event by 5 p.m., install CCTV cameras at the venue and keep marches within the designated protest area.

Authorities deployed thousands of police officers and paramilitary personnel around the capital, particularly along roads leading to Ramlila Maidan. Opposition parties also accused the government of attempting to prevent supporters from traveling to Delhi.

Gandhi urged demonstrators not to be deterred by the security presence in a message published on X.

"Don't worry about the police, don't worry about lathis [batons] - the BJP will not have the guts to try any of their antics," Gandhi wrote.

Security concerns have increased following protests on October 10, when authorities deployed thousands of personnel and closed large sections of Delhi during demonstrations organized by the CJP against Kumar. The group's leading figures were detained, while demonstrators faced police force during the dispersal.

The planned rally has also divided traders in Chandni Chowk, a historic commercial district less than a kilometer from Ramlila Maidan. Some business owners warned that the demonstration could disrupt festive-season trade ahead of Diwali, while another group supported Gandhi and criticized a BJP march through the market on Thursday.