

Photo: IANS
New Delhi: Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday appealed to people to join the INDIA bloc's 'Chalo Dilli' march, urging citizens to participate in a major opposition rally at Ramlila Maidan against alleged electoral irregularities and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi called on people to assemble at Connaught Place and march together towards Ramlila Maidan, where opposition parties are holding the protest.
"Delhi, get ready! Save the Vote, Save the Nation. Come to Connaught Place, let's march together. Or meet directly at Ramlila Maidan - but you must come. Today | 12 PM," he wrote.
The INDIA bloc has expressed confidence that the demonstration will attract a large turnout, with participation extending beyond party workers to include members of the public and student organisations.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut described the gathering as a mega rally and said the opposition would continue its agitation until the Chief Election Commissioner resigned.
Speaking to IANS earlier on Sunday, Raut said the government might believe that the protest movement had lost momentum, but the opposition would not back down from its demand.
"They may be under the assumption that the agitation has ended, but we won't let them go until Gyanesh Kumar resigns," he said.
Raut also echoed Rahul Gandhi's allegation that people were being prevented from attending the rally.
The opposition alliance has organised the gathering to protest alleged irregularities in the electoral process, oppose the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demand the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
The rally is being projected by opposition leaders as a major show of unity and strength, with representatives of constituent parties, party workers and student groups gathering at Ramlila Maidan.
The protest comes amid a continuing political confrontation between the opposition and the Election Commission over the voter-list revision exercise. Opposition parties have raised concerns about the process, alleging irregularities and questioning its implementation.
Meanwhile, security arrangements have been significantly strengthened across New Delhi and Central Delhi ahead of the demonstration. Personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), along with Delhi Police teams, have been deployed at sensitive locations, including areas around Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg.
Delhi Police have also tightened security across the national capital. Restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) are in force across the city's districts, prohibiting gatherings at several key locations, including Jantar Mantar and the Election Commission office.
The rally is expected to provide the opposition alliance with an opportunity to intensify its campaign over electoral transparency and put further pressure on the Election Commission and the Centre.
