The INDIA bloc’s “Chalo Dilli” march commenced on Sunday, with Opposition leaders walking from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction to Ramlila Maidan in the capital.
Key political figures participating in the procession included Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, reports Hindustan Times.
Demonstrators convened at Ramlila Maidan for the “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao” rally targeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.
The demonstration occurred a day after the Opposition held a mock impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Meanwhile, aiming to challenge the Opposition regarding the timing of their demonstration, the BJP organised a counter-protest march on Sunday in Delhi’s Hari Nagar neighbourhood over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
According to news agency PTI, the BJP procession was led by Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri and joined by various Sikh organisations.
Security across central Delhi was heavily tightened, with nearly 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel deployed on Sunday. DCP Central Rohit Rajbir said over 200 CCTV cameras were installed in the area, with security personnel stationed throughout the venue and positioned inside enclosures.
Although police previously indicated they would facilitate the march, which Gandhi had announced on Instagram, authorities planned for an attendance of approximately 50,000 to match Ramlila Maidan’s capacity.
In contrast, the INDIA bloc anticipated “nearly one million people” arriving from across the country. Police stated that any crowd overflow would be held back on surrounding streets.
Traffic across the capital was significantly affected, prompting the Delhi Traffic Police to issue an advisory outlining route diversions and restrictions in parts of central Delhi between 10am and 5pm.
The designated diversion points included Netaji Subhash Marg T-Point, Rajghat, Delhi Gate, ITO A-Point, Ajmeri Gate Red Light, Ranjeet Singh Flyover at Barakhamba Road, Bhavbhuti Marg–DDU Marg Red Light, Jhandewalan Roundabout, Turkman Gate, and Mirdard Chowk.
During the rally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged participants coming from outside Delhi to support local shopkeepers and make festive purchases while protesting. In a post on X, Gandhi stated: “I want those lakhs of people coming to Delhi from outside to support the traders here. Protest, march, hold rallies, and along with that, do a little shopping too – it will benefit the traders”.
The renewed protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar follow long-standing Opposition allegations of “vote chori” and objections to the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in several states.
Tensions escalated after a report by The Indian Express last month disclosed that Election Commissioners had raised objections to decisions made by the CEC 14 times over a 10-month period.
Although the poll body maintained that all decisions were unanimous, the report gave fresh momentum to the Opposition’s allegations of “vote chori”, leading to protest calls by student organisations, INDIA bloc parties, and the Cockroach Janta Party.
