BJP chief Nitin Nabin leads 'Save Democracy' march in Delhi's Chandni Chowk
Synopsis
With the INDIA bloc's 'Vote Bachao' mega rally just days away, BJP National President Nitin Nabin took to Chandni Chowk on 28 October to lead the party's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' march — a nationwide counter-mobilisation that will stretch into a month-long padyatra campaign starting 1 November, the same day as the Opposition's Ramlila Maidan rally.
Key Takeaways
BJP National President Nitin Nabin led the 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' foot march at Chandni Chowk, New Delhi on 28 October 2026 .
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta , Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra , Home Minister Amit Shah , and BJP Chief Ministers participated in marches across the country simultaneously.
The campaign is a direct counter to Opposition protests over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The INDIA bloc has called a 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' rally at Ramlila Maidan on 1 November 2026 and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar .
The BJP will launch a month-long padyatra counter-campaign beginning 1 November , led by senior ministers and Chief Ministers in BJP-ruled states.
BJP National President Nitin Nabin on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, led the party's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' foot march through Chandni Chowk in New Delhi, as the Bharatiya Janata Party intensified its nationwide outreach amid mounting Opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The march marks one of the BJP's most visible political mobilisations ahead of the INDIA bloc's planned mega rally on 1 November.
Who Participated
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra, sitting Members of Parliament, and several senior party leaders joined Nabin for the Chandni Chowk march. Similar foot marches were organised simultaneously across the country under the same campaign banner, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states participating in programmes across their respective regions.
What the BJP Said
The party announced the march on its official X handle on Tuesday night, stating: 'BJP National President Shri @NitinNabin will lead the ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ march in New Delhi on October 28, 2026.' Speaking at a BJP event in Panaji on Tuesday, Nabin accused the Congress of being 'frustrated' and 'desperate', and charged the Gandhi family with 'working only for its own interests' — remarks he framed as the rationale behind launching the nationwide campaign.
The Electoral Rolls Row
The BJP's mobilisation is directly linked to the ongoing political storm over the SIR. Opposition parties have alleged irregularities in the revision process and questioned the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The INDIA bloc has gone further, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the electoral authorities of failing to address concerns over alleged 'vote chori' (vote theft). The ECI has not yet publicly responded to the resignation demand.
BJP's Counter-Mobilisation Strategy
The timing of the march is deliberately calibrated. The INDIA bloc has announced a 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' rally at Ramlila Maidan on 1 November to protest the SIR process. In response, the BJP is preparing a month-long counter-campaign beginning the same date, featuring synchronised padyatras across the country. Senior Union Ministers and Chief Ministers from BJP-ruled states are expected to lead marches in their respective regions to mobilise party workers and broaden public outreach.
What Comes Next
With both sides scheduling major mobilisations around 1 November, the political temperature in the capital is set to rise sharply over the coming days. The BJP's padyatra campaign is designed to sustain momentum beyond a single event, turning grassroots street presence into a sustained counter-narrative against the Opposition's electoral integrity charges. How the Election Commission responds to Opposition demands — and whether it clarifies the SIR process publicly — will be a critical variable in the days ahead.
Point of View
Not just the SIR process. What is striking is the symmetry of timing: both campaigns converge on 1 November, turning the date into a de facto street-level referendum on the Election Commission's credibility. The deeper structural issue — whether the SIR process has genuine procedural gaps or is being weaponised for electoral mobilisation — remains unresolved and unanswered by the ECI. Until the Commission engages substantively with the Opposition's documented objections, each padyatra and rally will simply amplify the noise without producing accountability.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BJP's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' march?
It is a nationwide foot-march campaign launched by the BJP on 28 October 2026, led by party president Nitin Nabin in Delhi's Chandni Chowk. The campaign is framed as a counter to Opposition protests over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with simultaneous marches held across BJP-ruled states.
Why is the BJP holding this march now?
The march is timed to counter the INDIA bloc's 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' rally scheduled for 1 November 2026 at Ramlila Maidan, where Opposition parties plan to protest against the SIR process and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The BJP is also launching a month-long padyatra campaign from the same date.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is a periodic exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to update and verify voter rolls. Opposition parties have alleged that the current round contains irregularities and amounts to 'vote chori' (vote theft), while the BJP defends the process and accuses the Opposition of spreading misinformation.
Who is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar?
The INDIA bloc — the Opposition alliance — has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the ECI of failing to address concerns over alleged irregularities in the SIR process. The Commission has not publicly responded to this demand.
What is the BJP's counter-campaign plan for November?
Starting 1 November 2026, the BJP will run a month-long synchronised padyatra campaign across the country, with senior Union Ministers and Chief Ministers from BJP-ruled states leading marches in their respective regions to mobilise party workers and counter the INDIA bloc's narrative on electoral integrity.
