The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday, 1 November 2026, organised 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' (Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy) protest marches across multiple states, directly countering the INDIA bloc's rally at Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi, which targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities. With lakhs of workers reportedly taking to the streets, the BJP framed its mobilisation as a defence of constitutional institutions against what it described as organised anarchy.

Key Developments Across States

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma led the march in Shimla, with the procession set to culminate at a rally in Chaura Maidan. Sarma directly targeted Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, questioning whether elections in Congress-governed states should also be cancelled by the same logic the Opposition was applying to BJP victories.

In Haryana's Rohtak, a similar march was led by BJP National President Nitin Nabin. In Thane, Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde participated in the rally alongside Maharashtra BJP President Ravindra Chavan and Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske.

What BJP Leaders Said

Sarma challenged Gandhi's legitimacy as a critic of EVMs, noting that Gandhi himself was elected via the same electronic voting machine process in 2024. 'He was also elected in 2024, wasn't he? He too was elected through EVMs. He should also resign,' Sarma said.

BJP MP Anurag Thakur, who participated in the Shimla padyatra, drew a pointed historical reference, stating that the Congress — whose leaders he held responsible for the 1984 Sikh massacre — had chosen 1 November, its anniversary, to 'murder democracy and the Constitution.' He accused Gandhi of seeking support from foreign forces to engineer a 'regime change.'

Deputy CM Shinde alleged that the Opposition was 'speaking the language of Pakistan' and had become 'puppets in the hands of foreign powers,' while contrasting this with what he described as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to unite the nation. Shinde also pointed out that Congress MPs and MLAs in states governed by the party had themselves been elected through EVMs, questioning the consistency of the Opposition's position.

The INDIA Bloc Context

The BJP marches were a direct response to the INDIA bloc's rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, which targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over what the Opposition has described as electoral irregularities. The Opposition alliance has been pushing for greater scrutiny of the Election Commission and has repeatedly questioned the integrity of the EVM-based voting process. This comes amid a broader, ongoing confrontation between the ruling coalition and the Opposition over the independence of constitutional bodies.

The Broader Political Flashpoint

Notably, the BJP's nationwide mobilisation signals an escalation in the institutional battle being waged in the political arena. Ravindra Chavan said that constitutional institutions 'which form the foundation of our democracy are being targeted and undermined in different ways,' framing the marches as a citizen-led defence of the system. The Mahayuti alliance's participation in Thane also underscores the coordination between BJP and its Maharashtra allies ahead of future electoral cycles.

As both sides take their arguments to the streets, the confrontation over EVMs and the Election Commission is set to intensify, with the BJP betting that visible counter-mobilisation will blunt the Opposition's narrative momentum going forward.