The Delhi Police has granted the Congress permission to hold a mega rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 as part of the Opposition’s ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ campaign against alleged irregularities in the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The rally is expected to bring together leaders of the INDIA bloc, with the Congress inviting Opposition parties to participate in the mobilisation.
The development comes days after Delhi Police denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site and identified alternative venues for demonstrations in the national capital. Confirming the permission, Delhi Police said it had issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the proposed gathering and was coordinating with the organisers and other agencies to ensure appropriate security and traffic arrangements.
Rally Gets Approval
According to reports, the Congress approached the Delhi Police for permission to organise the November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan, a prominent venue for political gatherings and public demonstrations in central Delhi. The police granted the party an NOC, with the permission covering the period from October 25 to November 3, 2026. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh confirmed that the party had also approached the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to check the availability of the venue.
The civic body informed the police that the ground would be available during the specified period. In its statement, the Delhi Police said, “The Delhi Police is in constant coordination with the organisers, Traffic Police and other concerned agencies to ensure appropriate law-and-order arrangements, effective traffic management and the smooth conduct of the proposed rally.”
The approval allows the Congress to proceed with preparations for the gathering, although the police have emphasised the need for arrangements to maintain public order and manage traffic. Congress leaders have indicated that the rally will be part of a wider political campaign against alleged discrepancies in voter lists. The party has also invited leaders from other INDIA bloc constituents, making the proposed gathering an attempt to bring Opposition parties together around concerns over electoral processes.
SIR Campaign Expands
The rally follows a joint action plan finalised by INDIA bloc parties on September 30 to intensify their campaign against the SIR exercise and raise concerns over electoral integrity. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had announced that the party would organise marches, public meetings and outreach programmes between October 10 and October 20.
These activities were intended to reach people at district and village levels, including through local gatherings known as chaupals, and help voters whose names had reportedly been removed from electoral rolls understand the process for seeking re-enrolment. Ramesh also announced plans for a major INDIA bloc rally on November 1, inviting Opposition leaders to participate. The Congress and other Opposition parties have alleged that the voter-list revision process could disenfranchise eligible citizens and have questioned the Election Commission’s handling of the exercise.
These remain political allegations, and claims of irregularities should be distinguished from independently established findings. The SIR process has become a major point of contention between the Opposition and the authorities, with electoral-roll accuracy, transparency and the protection of eligible voters emerging as central issues. The change in the protest landscape in Delhi has added another dimension to the campaign. On October 12, Delhi Police denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site and named Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and the Central Business District (CBD) Ground in Shahdara as alternative venues for demonstrations. The police said the decision followed the Supreme Court’s directions to identify suitable alternative locations for public protests. Jantar Mantar had served for years as a prominent venue for citizens, political parties and civil society groups to express dissent. Its removal from the list of designated sites has prompted questions about access to established spaces for peaceful demonstrations.
The Supreme Court has also sought responses from the Centre and Delhi Police on a petition challenging the denotification, bringing the issue under judicial consideration.
Delhi: On the Congress party seeking permission to hold a protest at Ramlila Maidan from October 25 to November 3, DCP Central Delhi, Rohit Rajbir Singh, says, "As you know, under the latest orders, Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground have been designated as sites for demonstrations and rallies in Delhi. The Congress party approached us, stating that it had already obtained the land availability dates from the MCD, as Ramlila Maidan comes under the MCD’s control. It then approached us seeking a no-objection certificate from us. We held a couple of meetings with the Congress organisers and discussed the security arrangements required and their logistical requirements, which had to be factored into our preparations. After considering all these aspects, we have today granted them the no-objection certificate to hold the rally from October 25 to November 3…"
— IANS (@ians_india) October 17, 2026
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Congress rally comes at a time when public confidence in electoral institutions, the accuracy of voter lists and the right to peaceful protest are central to political debate. Every eligible citizen must be able to exercise their right to vote without fear of exclusion, while concerns about electoral processes deserve transparent explanations and credible scrutiny.
At the same time, allegations of wrongdoing must be examined through evidence, established procedures and constructive dialogue rather than political polarisation. The Election Commission and other authorities have an important responsibility to communicate clearly, address genuine grievances and ensure that eligible voters have accessible avenues to verify their registration and seek corrections.
As the November 1 rally approaches, its significance will depend not only on the number of political leaders and supporters attending but also on whether it encourages informed public discussion and brings greater clarity to concerns surrounding electoral rolls. How can political parties, the Election Commission and citizens work together to protect voting rights while ensuring that disagreements are addressed peacefully and democratically?
