Rahul Gandhi Demands Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner at Rally in New Delhi

Ganpat Singh Chouhan November 1, 2026, 9:59 pm 4 min read

New Delhi, November 1: The opposition gathered at Ramleela Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the cessation of the SIR. During the “Save Votes, Save Country” rally organized by the India Bloc, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stated that Gyanesh Kumar would be removed from his position and would face imprisonment. He emphasized that without Gyanesh Kumar, Narendra Modi would not be Prime Minister, nor would Amit Shah be Home Minister.

Rahul described the situation as more than mere theft; it is a theft of every citizen’s voice. He labeled it as “rarest of rare” in legal terms and an act of treason. He warned that after Gyanesh Kumar, others would also face consequences, asserting that no one would be allowed to operate freely. He declared that this is not just the voice of one party or its leaders; it is a collective voice insisting that democracy and the Constitution must not be undermined—no matter how much money or power one possesses, they cannot surpass the Constitution.

Sonia, Priyanka, Mamata, and Tejashwi on Stage

Rahul was joined on stage by Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Other prominent leaders included Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Kapil Sibal, Gaurav Gogoi, Kumari Selja, Randeep Surjewala, and Ram Gopal Yadav. Notable figures such as Farooq Abdullah from the National Conference, Mehbooba Mufti from PDP, and Supriya Sule from NCP also participated. From Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot and former Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring addressed the rally.

Rahul Accuses of Years of Vote Theft

Rahul claimed that vote theft has been occurring in the country for years. Mamata Banerjee cited West Bengal as an example. Allegations were also raised regarding Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In Rajasthan, opposition leader Tikaram Julie has accused the government of removing 13 crore names from the voter list.

Statements from Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti

Farooq Abdullah remarked that Muslims are often labeled as Pakistani, despite their sacrifices for India. He highlighted that according to Akhilesh Yadav, 1.27 crore Hindu names were also removed from the voter list in Uttar Pradesh—questioning if they too are considered Pakistani. He stressed the importance of ensuring that no Indian is deprived of their vote, asserting that Jammu and Kashmir has always been and will remain a part of India.

Mehbooba Mufti stated that those wanting to change the country’s system must act now, or it will be too late. She criticized previous governments for transferring national assets to business allies and lamented the reduction of youth employment opportunities, turning those who once proudly joined the army into Agniveers.

Opposition Unites for the Seventh Time in 25 Days

The opposition has united for the seventh time in 25 days against the SIR and Gyanesh Kumar. Prior protests occurred six times between October 6 and 13. On Saturday, the opposition passed a symbolic impeachment against the Chief Election Commissioner at Kharge’s residence, listing six allegations including the removal of 13.2 crore voters’ names. The Delhi Police granted permission for the rally from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Claims of Crowd Size from Both Sides

Both sides made claims regarding the crowd size. According to the Delhi Police, Ramleela Maidan can accommodate around 45,000 to 50,000 people, with overflow onto surrounding roads. Congress leader Kumari Selja claimed millions attended, while BJP MP Sambit Patra questioned where the supposed ten lakh attendees were. Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized the timing of the rally, suggesting it was insensitive to hold it on the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Target of One Lakh Attendees from Rajasthan

The Congress party had tasked Rajasthan with mobilizing attendees for the rally. On October 25, organization general secretary K.C. Venugopal stated the goal was to bring one lakh people from Rajasthan to Delhi. Meanwhile, the BJP launched a “Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy” campaign against Congress regarding the SIR, initiated by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma in Kota on October 30, urging those with objections to present evidence in court.

Author Profile

Ganpat Singh Chouhan: My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.