Kharge at Dilli Chalo rally: 'We will find Gyanesh Kumar even underground'
Synopsis
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took the fight over electoral integrity to Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, vowing the INDIA bloc will pursue CEC Gyanesh Kumar 'even underground' until he resigns. The rally — one of the Opposition's biggest street actions in recent memory — targets the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which the bloc claims could delete 130 million voters. The political temperature is rising sharply ahead of upcoming state polls.
Key Takeaways
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge addressed the INDIA bloc's 'Dilli Chalo' rally at Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi on 1 November 2026 .
Kharge demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of 'attempting to snatch' votes and shielding the CEC.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor alleged the SIR process risks removing around 130 million voters from electoral rolls.
Kharge closed with the slogan 'Modi ko hatao, Loktantra Bachao' , signalling a sustained Opposition campaign ahead of upcoming state elections.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday, 1 November 2026, launched a sharp attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at the INDIA bloc's 'Dilli Chalo' rally at Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi, warning that citizens would 'find' the CEC 'even if he tries to hide underground.' The rally was held to demand Kumar's resignation over alleged electoral irregularities, including the Opposition's objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Kharge's Remarks at Ramlila Maidan
Addressing what he called a 'historic meeting,' Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of 'attempting to snatch' the votes of the youth, women, and minorities. 'We have gathered here to ensure the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. We won't settle down until he resigns and will keep on fighting,' he declared.
In a direct address to the Prime Minister, Kharge stated: 'Don't be under the assumption that all work is done by your police. We are not going to be afraid of ED, CBI and other government agencies used by you; instead, all of us at INDIA bloc will keep on fighting.'
He further alleged that Modi was 'attempting to create divisions among the public and snatch their votes,' adding that governments in Maharashtra, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh had 'came to power by vote theft.' He closed with the slogan: 'Modi ko hatao, Loktantra Bachao' — remove Modi, save democracy.
The SIR Row That Triggered the Protest
The rally centres on the INDIA bloc's opposition to the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, speaking on his way to the venue, described the protest as a constitutional issue rather than a partisan one. 'This is not about parties, this is not about Congress, this is about the very simple message that the constitutional rights of the Indian people should not be taken away by the Election Commission,' Tharoor said.
Tharoor alleged that the SIR process risked removing around 130 million voters from electoral rolls, calling it 'simply wrong' and demanding 'an absolutely clean election register.'
Opposition's Broader Challenge to the Election Commission
The INDIA bloc has repeatedly questioned the Election Commission's conduct in recent state elections, and Sunday's demonstration at Ramlila Maidan marks one of its most high-profile street actions to date. This comes amid a broader Opposition narrative that institutions of democratic oversight — including the CEC's office — are being shielded by the ruling establishment. Notably, Ramlila Maidan has historically been the venue for mass political movements, lending symbolic weight to the rally.
What Comes Next
The INDIA bloc has signalled it will sustain pressure through continued street protests and parliamentary action. The Election Commission has not publicly responded to the specific allegations raised at the rally. With assembly elections in several states approaching, the Opposition's campaign against the CEC is expected to intensify, making the future of Gyanesh Kumar's tenure a politically charged flashpoint in the months ahead.
Point of View
Designed to dominate the news cycle and paint the Election Commission as a partisan actor. The 130-million-voters claim is the substantive hook that separates this from routine Opposition theatre, but it has yet to be independently verified. The real test for the alliance is whether sustained street pressure translates into institutional scrutiny — or whether, without a unified political strategy, Ramlila Maidan becomes just another rally that fires up the base but shifts nothing.
NationPress
1 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the INDIA bloc's 'Dilli Chalo' rally about?
The 'Dilli Chalo' rally, held at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on 1 November 2026, was organised by the INDIA bloc to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Opposition alleges that the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is unconstitutional and could disenfranchise millions of voters.
Who is Gyanesh Kumar and why is the Opposition targeting him?
Gyanesh Kumar is India's Chief Election Commissioner. The INDIA bloc has accused him of overseeing alleged electoral irregularities, including the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, which Congress MP Shashi Tharoor claims could remove around 130 million voters from the electoral register.
What did Mallikarjun Kharge say at the rally?
Kharge vowed that the INDIA bloc would not rest until Gyanesh Kumar resigned, warning that citizens would 'find him even if he tries to hide underground.' He also accused PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of protecting the CEC and attempting to 'snatch' the votes of youth, women, and minorities.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is an Election Commission process to revise and update voter rolls. The INDIA bloc alleges it is being used to wrongfully delete voters — particularly from Opposition-leaning demographics — and has called the exercise constitutionally impermissible at this scale.
What does the INDIA bloc plan to do next?
The bloc has indicated it will sustain pressure through continued street protests and parliamentary action. With assembly elections in several states on the horizon, the campaign demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation is expected to escalate in the coming weeks.
