Congress Reviews Preparations for INDIA Bloc Rally, Vows Joint Fight Against ‘Vote Chors’

NEW DELHI, Oct 24: The Congress has intensified preparations for the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan, asserting that the demonstration will highlight opposition unity and its campaign against alleged electoral irregularities.

Congress general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K C Venugopal held separate meetings with party leaders from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters on Friday to assess mobilisation efforts ahead of the proposed gathering.

The party said the rally would send a message about its commitment to safeguarding democratic institutions and challenging what opposition leaders describe as “vote chori”.

The meeting with Uttar Pradesh leaders was attended by AICC state in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam, former Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Rai, state working president Imran Masood and senior leaders Salman Khurshid and Ajay Lallu, among others.

The discussions with Haryana leaders included AICC in-charge Sanjay Dutt, Pradesh Congress Committee president Rao Narender Singh, Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala and MP Deepender Hooda, along with other senior party functionaries.

In a post on X, Venugopal said the meetings focused on preparations and efforts to bring supporters to the November 1 demonstration. He also confirmed that discussions had taken place with the leadership from both states to coordinate participation.

Venugopal described the proposed gathering as the culmination of a wider “Delhi Chalo March”, which is scheduled to reach the national capital on the same day. He claimed that at least one million citizens were expected to participate in the mobilisation, although this figure represents the party’s stated expectation rather than a confirmed turnout.

The Congress leader also alleged that electoral irregularities had taken place and accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other officials of acting at the behest of the ruling leadership. These allegations are part of the opposition’s campaign and have not been established as facts by the statements cited.

The rally is intended to increase pressure on the government over the opposition’s allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Congress and its INDIA bloc partners have questioned aspects of the exercise and demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.

The electoral-roll revision has become a major point of confrontation between the opposition and the authorities, with opposition parties arguing that the process raises concerns about the protection of voters’ rights. The Election Commission’s role and the procedures governing electoral-roll revisions remain central to the dispute.

The planned demonstration follows a series of opposition activities in the capital. On October 12, opposition leaders, activists and civil society representatives participated in a ‘March for Democracy’ towards the Supreme Court and submitted a joint petition concerning the SIR.

The subsequent political discussions continued on October 13, when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hosted INDIA bloc leaders at his residence. Following the meeting, opposition representatives reiterated their intention to continue raising concerns about alleged electoral malpractice.

The November 1 event is expected to bring together party workers and supporters from different states, with the Congress working to coordinate participation through its state units. The meetings with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana leaders form part of that broader organisational effort.

By placing the rally at Ramlila Maidan, a prominent venue for political demonstrations in Delhi, the opposition alliance aims to draw national attention to its demands. The gathering is also expected to provide a platform for INDIA bloc parties to present a coordinated position on electoral transparency and accountability.

The Congress has framed the campaign as a collective effort involving opposition parties and citizens, while its leaders have used increasingly strong language to criticise the Election Commission’s handling of the disputed issues.

The Election Commission’s position and the outcome of the legal proceedings will remain important to the continuing debate. The opposition’s allegations, the electoral authorities’ responses and any judicial findings must be assessed separately as the matter develops.

With the rally date approaching, the Congress is focusing on expanding participation and strengthening coordination among its state organisations. The November 1 demonstration is set to be the next major event in the INDIA bloc’s campaign over electoral roll revisions and its demand for greater accountability in the electoral process.