New Delhi, Nov 1: Supporters of various INDIA bloc parties began gathering at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan early Sunday as the Opposition alliance prepared to hold its ‘Chalo Dilli’ rally against alleged electoral irregularities and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Party workers mobilised from different parts of the country assembled at multiple locations across the national capital ahead of the rally, with large groups of supporters arriving on Sunday morning. Several others had reached Delhi on Saturday or earlier as political parties organised their cadres for the protest.
Samajwadi Party workers gathered outside the residence of party chief Akhilesh Yadav, while Congress supporters assembled outside Himachal Bhawan before heading towards the rally venue.
Leaders of 21 INDIA bloc parties, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, are scheduled to participate in the march against what the Opposition has termed ‘vote chori’.
According to the planned route, the leaders will travel in open buses from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence to the Minto Road junction near Connaught Place. From there, they will march through Ajmeri Gate to Ramlila Maidan, with the procession scheduled to begin at noon.
The rally has been organised to protest against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and alleged irregularities in electoral rolls. The Opposition has accused the poll body of failing to ensure the integrity of electoral processes and has called for Kumar’s resignation.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police has put in place an extensive security arrangement in view of the expected turnout of thousands of people at Ramlila Maidan.
More than 4,000 security personnel have been deployed, while over 200 CCTV cameras have been installed to monitor the gathering and surrounding areas. The venue has been divided into 14 security zones.
The arrangements also include drone surveillance, body-worn cameras, anti-riot vehicles and a dedicated control room. Personnel from various Delhi Police districts and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be stationed along the march route, from Minto Bridge to Ramlila Maidan, as well as inside the venue.
