New Delhi: Supporters of various INDIA bloc parties began gathering at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday ahead of the Opposition alliance’s ‘Chalo Dilli’ protest against alleged electoral irregularities and its demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Samajwadi Party workers assembled outside the residence of party chief Akhilesh Yadav, while Congress supporters gathered outside Himachal Bhawan before proceeding towards the rally venue. Party workers and supporters from different states have travelled to the national capital to participate in the mobilisation.
The ‘Chalo Dilli’ march is scheduled to begin at noon from the Minto Road–Connaught Place junction and culminate at Ramlila Maidan, where the INDIA bloc will hold a rally. Senior Opposition leaders are expected to travel in open buses from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence to the starting point of the march.
The INDIA bloc has projected a turnout of up to 10 lakh people, while Delhi Police estimates that around 50,000 people may attend. Ramlila Maidan can accommodate approximately 45,000 to 50,000 people when empty. However, the capacity is expected to reduce to 30,000–40,000 after arrangements for chairs, enclosures and designated passageways.
More than 4,000 police personnel, along with Central Armed Police Forces, are being deployed for security and crowd management. The venue has been divided into 14 zones, each supervised by an officer of Assistant Commissioner rank. More than 200 CCTV cameras, drones and body-worn cameras will be used for surveillance.
The mobilisation follows a symbolic ‘public impeachment’ programme organised by the INDIA bloc at Kharge’s residence on Saturday. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar presided over the proceedings, while Kharge moved a resolution listing the Opposition’s allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner. Rahul Gandhi delivered the concluding remarks.
The Opposition has accused the Election Commission of large-scale irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, alleging that eligible voters’ names have been deleted. The alliance has described the issue as ‘vote chori’ and is demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
