New Delhi: As senior leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc assembled at Ramlila Maidan for a major display of strength on Sunday, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary (Operations) K.C. Venugopal lauded the massive turnout, declaring that "not only Ramlila Maidan, but the entire Delhi is flooded with people."

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Speaking to reporters, Venugopal asserted that despite logistical obstacles, citizens from across the country had gathered in the national capital to demonstrate unity with the opposition coalition.

"Not only Ramlila Maidan, but the entire Delhi is flooded with people. People have come from every corner to stand united and send a resounding message," Venugopal said.

The rally at the historic Ramlila Maidan brought together key leaders and party cadres from numerous opposition constituents in a unified demonstration against the central government, prompting heavy security deployments and traffic diversions across central Delhi.

Mounting a fierce attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), Congress Lok Sabha MP Sardar Sher Singh Ghubaya accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of "facilitating vote theft" to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while demanding his immediate removal from office.

"Regarding Gyanesh Kumar, we believe he has facilitated the theft of votes in favour of the BJP, bypassed all laws and procedures, and caused great harm to the nation. He has effectively disenfranchised voters who intended to cast their ballots... That is why all our parties within the INDIA alliance have come together today to protest and demand the removal of Gyanesh Kumar. We are calling for action to be taken against him, ensuring that, moving forward, the voting process is conducted properly and votes are cast as intended.", he said.

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Predicting an unprecedented turnout for the joint opposition demonstration, Congress Lok Sabha MP Varsha Gaikwad stated that the Ramlila Maidan gathering would send an unmistakable message across the nation, pressing for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's immediate resignation.

Speaking to ANI prior to joining the rally, the Mumbai North Central MP emphasised that the demonstration reflects widespread public indignation.

"Today, you will witness a rally organised under the banner of the INDIA alliance, in which every Indian is set to participate. This will be a historic rally, a massive surge of people, the likes of which have never been seen before and will never be seen again, that will make it clear: Gyanesh Kumar must resign.", she said.

Earlier, before taking part in the opposition alliance's 'Chalo Dilli' march at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing assault on the BJP.

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Pointing to the outcomes of the recent Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council biennial election—where the BJP secured six seats and the SP won five- Yadav mocked the ruling party's "double engine" campaign slogan, claiming it had collapsed into a "double zero" and a "double defeat" following contested vote counts and recounts in critical constituencies.

Directing criticism toward Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the ECI, Yadav questioned the rationale behind the removal of millions of voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, alleging that the Chief Minister had conceded a reduction of 12.7 million votes following the party's performance in the MLC elections.

"The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh himself has admitted that 1.27 crore (12.7 million) votes have decreased. And when did he remember this? When they lost the MLC election. Those who used to boast about a 'double engine' ended up scoring a 'double zero' right there. And not just a double zero; alongside that double zero, they couldn't even accept defeat the first time. They colluded with the Election Commission and got a recount done. So think about it: double engine, double zero, and a double defeat in the very same election! And after all that, what are they suddenly claiming? That 1.27 crore votes don't belong to Hindus," he told reporters.

ANI