INDIA bloc to hold ‘public impeachment’ of CEC Gyanesh Kumar today | LIVE

Updated - October 31, 2026 10:05 am IST

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition(Lok Sabha) along with INDIA Bloc leaders reaches for a press conference at 10 Rajaji Marg in New Delhi on October 30, 2026. | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) Bloc will hold the “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday (October 31, 2026), after it was postponed on Friday owing to rains in the national capital.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition parties would hold the Chalo Dilli march from the Minto Road–Connaught Place junction in central Delhi to Ramlila Maidan on November 1, where the INDIA bloc would hold a rally against alleged vote chori (theft) through the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and press for the CEC’s resignation.

Mr. Gandhi also accused the Home Minister of trying to prevent people from reaching Delhi for the November 1 rally, an allegation rejected as a ‘lie’ by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Preparations for the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan were in full swing on Friday (October 30), with CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas claiming that 10 lakh people would come to Delhi and alleging that authorities were trying to prevent participants from reaching the national capital.

The rally, which will begin around 11 a.m., is part of the opposition bloc’s campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities and cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

People are expected to start arriving in Delhi from the night of October 31, while Delhi Police has permitted the gathering between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday (October 30) said he would participate in the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally in Delhi over alleged electoral irregularities and the demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

“We will go [to Delhi] on November 1. We will also participate in the rally,” Mr. Yadav said at a presser.

Segueing into his sarcastic style, Mr. Yadav also called for “better-quality” photographs on voter ID cards, saying the pictures in electoral rolls were often so unclear that one could not recognise a person.

Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav has constituted 20 committees to oversee arrangements for the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan, with responsibilities ranging from accommodation to venue management, sanitation and social media.

According to an official statement, the committees were approved by Yadav to coordinate various aspects of the rally, which is being organised by the opposition alliance to protest against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

A major rally led by the Congress and attended by the Left parties and other INDIA bloc members scheduled at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on November 1, as part of a countrywide protest against the EC will be “huge,” CPI General Secretary D Raja said on Friday (October 30).

Addressing the media, Mr. Raja stated that the INDIA bloc is again spearheading a nationwide campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid public anger over the SIR.

The CPI leader asserted that the Election Commission must function as an impartial and neutral body to ensure free and fair elections and protect the people’s right to vote. He further demanded that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls be withdrawn.

The BJP on Friday (October 30) rejected as a “lie” Rahul Gandhi’s claim that Home Minister Amit Shah is trying to stop people from coming to Delhi for the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally in Delhi and asked the Congress leader to stop misleading people by spreading falsehood.

Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also demanded that Mr. Gandhi show proof of his allegation.

The BJP’s response came after Mr. Gandhi alleged that the home minister is “trying his best” to stop people from coming into Delhi to participate in INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally.

The INDIA bloc on Friday (October 30) asserted that it stood united against vote theft and would hold a “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on October 31, claiming that the countdown to the ouster of the poll panel chief was accelerating.