INDIA bloc rally: Kharge meets opposition leaders as Ramlila Maidan preparations gather pace

New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hosted INDIA bloc MPs at his residence in New Delhi on Thursday, October 29, ahead of the opposition alliance’s November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan. The meeting comes as opposition parties prepare to raise allegations of electoral irregularities, their objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and concerns involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Preparations for the rally are underway at Ramlila Maidan, where Congress leader Rajendra Pal Gautam reviewed arrangements. He claimed that more than 10 lakh people would attend the gathering, although the turnout estimate has not been independently verified.

Gautam also said seat-sharing discussions between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh were progressing. He said a list covering approximately 190–200 seats had been submitted to senior leaders and expressed confidence that the parties would reach an agreement. The final arrangement has yet to be announced.

Rahul Gandhi appeals to citizens and students

Earlier on Thursday, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi urged people to join the ‘Chalo Delhi Ramlila March’, describing it as a movement to protect democracy and the Constitution and oppose alleged vote theft.

“This is not a march of any one political party; it is a march of the soul of India,” Gandhi said in a video message shared on X.

He also appealed to student groups across political affiliations to participate, arguing that the march would provide an opportunity to raise concerns about freedom of expression, democratic rights and the Constitution.

Gandhi urged participants not to be deterred by the possibility of police action. His remarks come as opposition parties prepare to use the rally to intensify their campaign against the Election Commission over electoral processes.

INDIA bloc plans mock parliament

The November 1 rally is expected to follow a mock parliament scheduled for October 30, during which opposition leaders intend to symbolically ‘impeach’ Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The proposed exercise is a political demonstration and does not constitute a formal constitutional impeachment process for the CEC.

The INDIA bloc has been raising concerns about alleged vote theft and the SIR exercise, which involves revising electoral rolls. The Election Commission’s role and the procedures governing voter-list revision remain central to the opposition’s campaign.

During his visit to Ramlila Maidan, Gautam criticised the Centre’s policies on foreign affairs, education, employment and the economy. He also objected to an Uttar Pradesh government circular concerning candidates with a history of participation in violent protests or criminal cases applying for government jobs.

Gautam alleged that the measure could discourage young people from participating in protests and said students needed better access to scholarships, hostels and educational opportunities. These remarks reflect the Congress leader’s political position on the state government’s policy.