Amit Shah leads 'Save Democracy' Maha Padyatra in Hyderabad against INDIA bloc
Synopsis
Home Minister Amit Shah took BJP's political battle to Hyderabad on Monday, leading a 1.5-km 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' Maha Padyatra — a direct counter-salvo to the INDIA bloc's Ramlila Maidan rally the previous day. With Shah walking the national flag through the heart of the city alongside top ministers and party workers, the BJP is signalling it will contest the opposition on southern turf.
Key Takeaways
Amit Shah led the Maha Padyatra in Hyderabad on 2 November 2026 under the slogan 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' .
The 1.5-kilometre foot march ran from Babu Jagjivan Ram Statue, Basheerbagh to Moazzam Jahi Market .
The march is part of BJP's nationwide campaign countering the INDIA bloc's anti-SIR drive.
Shah posted on X accusing Congress of attempting to 'murder democracy through anarchic actions'.
Hyderabad Traffic Police imposed diversions across central areas including Nampally , Abids , and Afzal Gunj .
Shah earlier offered prayers at the Bhagyalakshmi temple near Charminar before the march.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, 2 November 2026, led the 'Maha Padyatra' in Hyderabad, a 1.5-kilometre foot march organised under the slogan 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy', as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) nationwide campaign to counter the anti-Special Investigation Report (SIR) drive launched by the INDIA bloc. The march began at the Babu Jagjivan Ram Statue in Basheerbagh and was set to conclude at Moazzam Jahi Market, where Shah addressed a public corner meeting.
How the Padyatra Unfolded
Holding the national flag, Amit Shah walked alongside Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao, and a large contingent of party MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and workers. Hundreds of BJP supporters joined the march through the heart of the city, passing through the busy stretches of Basheerbagh, Nampally, Abids, and Koti. Hyderabad Traffic Police imposed diversions across central Hyderabad, rerouting vehicles at Jambagh, MJ Market, and Afzal Gunj to manage the crowds.
What Shah Said on X
Ahead of the march, Shah posted on social media platform X, directly targeting the Congress party. 'Reeling from successive defeats in the elections, the Congress Party is now determined by any means to seize power, even if it means murdering democracy through their anarchic actions. To protect our democracy from the Congress Party's nefarious attempts, I will participate in the grand padayatra titled Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy, taking place this evening in Hyderabad,' he wrote. The post framed the march as a direct democratic counter to the opposition's Ramlila Maidan rally held in Delhi the previous day.
The Political Context
The padyatra is the BJP's formal response to the INDIA bloc's anti-SIR campaign, which gained momentum at a large rally at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday. By staging the counter-march in Hyderabad — a city that sits at the intersection of Telangana state politics and national opposition consolidation — the BJP is signalling its intent to compete on the opposition's turf. This comes amid a broader pattern of both blocs using street-level mobilisation ahead of upcoming state electoral cycles, with each side accusing the other of undermining constitutional institutions.
Shah's Earlier Engagements in Hyderabad
Before the march commenced, Shah offered prayers at the Bhagyalakshmi temple, located adjacent to the historic Charminar in the old city of Hyderabad. He was accompanied by G. Kishan Reddy and N. Ramchander Rao. On his arrival at Begumpet Airport, Shah was accorded a reception by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, along with BJP MPs and state leaders.
What to Watch Next
Shah's corner meeting address at Moazzam Jahi Market was expected to directly respond to the INDIA bloc's Ramlila Maidan rally and set the BJP's political narrative heading into the next phase of the campaign. As both sides escalate street mobilisation, the intensity of this 'Save Democracy' drive will be a gauge of the BJP's organisational strength in southern India.
Point of View
A narrative reversal that has worked electorally in the past. What remains to be seen is whether street-level mobilisation alone can shift the ground in a state where the BJP has struggled to displace well-entrenched regional and Congress networks.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' padyatra in Hyderabad?
It is a 1.5-kilometre foot march led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Hyderabad on 2 November 2026, organised by the BJP under the slogan 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy'. The march is part of a nationwide BJP campaign to counter the INDIA bloc's anti-SIR campaign.
Why did Amit Shah hold the padyatra in Hyderabad?
The padyatra was organised as a direct counter to the INDIA bloc's anti-SIR rally held at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Sunday. By choosing Hyderabad — a city in Congress-governed Telangana — the BJP is seeking to challenge the opposition on its own political ground in southern India.
What did Amit Shah post on X about the march?
Shah posted on X that Congress was 'determined by any means to seize power, even if it means murdering democracy through their anarchic actions' and announced his participation in the Hyderabad padyatra to protect democracy from what he called the party's 'nefarious attempts'.
Which leaders joined Amit Shah in the Hyderabad march?
Shah was joined by Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao, and a large number of party MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and workers.
What impact did the padyatra have on Hyderabad traffic?
Hyderabad Traffic Police imposed diversions across several central areas including Basheerbagh, Nampally, Abids, Jambagh, MJ Market, Koti, and Afzal Gunj to manage the crowds attending the march.
