The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Delhi unit on 1 November 2026 released a provocative poster titled 'Thago Ka Mela' (Fair of Thugs) hours before the INDIA bloc's major protest rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, directly targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and several other opposition leaders. The graphic, styled as a film poster, escalates the political rhetoric ahead of what the opposition alliance expects to be a landmark show of strength in the national capital.

What the BJP Poster Says

The poster — shared by the BJP Delhi unit on X — features Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, among others. It credits the rally as 'Directed by Rahul Gandhi and produced by Akhilesh Yadav,' in a pointed jab at the opposition leadership.

The poster alleges that the objective of the gathering is 'to spread rumours and create anarchy in the country at the behest of anti-national forces in order to save their political ground.' The BJP's Delhi unit accompanied the post with the message: 'Today, at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, it's going to be held again — The Fair of Thugs.'

Why the INDIA Bloc Called the Rally

The INDIA bloc's 'Chalo Dilli' march culminates at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, 2 November, organised to protest against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Opposition leaders argue the SIR process is being misused to manipulate voter lists, and they are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The alliance expects broad participation from opposition parties, party workers, and student groups.

Security Arrangements Across Delhi

Delhi Police have significantly tightened security ahead of the rally. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) is currently in force across all Delhi districts, with public gatherings prohibited at sensitive locations including Jantar Mantar and the premises of the Election Commission office. Police and paramilitary personnel are set to be deployed at Ramlila Maidan, while marching leaders will reportedly be permitted to reach designated venues only in personal vehicles.

Broader Political Context

This comes amid mounting tension between the ruling BJP and the INDIA bloc over the credibility of electoral processes in the lead-up to upcoming state elections. The opposition's focus on the SIR exercise reflects a broader campaign to question institutional independence under the current government — a theme the bloc has repeatedly deployed since the 2024 general elections. Notably, Ramlila Maidan has historically been the venue for high-stakes political mobilisations, lending symbolic weight to Sunday's gathering. The BJP's counter-messaging, through the 'Thago Ka Mela' poster, signals that the ruling party intends to frame the rally as politically motivated rather than a genuine democratic protest.

All eyes will be on the turnout at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday — a number that both sides will use to claim political momentum in the weeks ahead.