INDIA Bloc Schedules Saturday Impeachment of CEC Kumar and Sunday Rally with Traffic Curbs

The INDIA Bloc will hold a public impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct 31, after rain forced a delay from Friday. The same alliance plans a "Chalo Dilli" march on Sunday, Nov 1, beginning around midday from the Minto Road‑Connaught Place junction and ending at Ramlila Maidan, where a rally against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls will be led by Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha opposition leader, said the march aims to protest alleged vote theft and demand the CEC’s resignation. He also claimed the Home Minister is trying to stop people from reaching Delhi, a charge the BJP dismissed as false. The Vishva Hindu Parishad criticised holding the rally during Diwali, saying it ignores festivals and social harmony; its spokesperson Vinod Bansal said pleas from traders and Hindu groups to cancel the event were ignored. Delhi police will enforce traffic restrictions from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov 1. Diversions will affect major junctions including Netaji Subhash Marg, Rajghat, Delhi Gate, ITO, Ajmeri Gate, Ranjit Singh Flyover, Jhandewalan, Turkman Gate and Mirdard Chowk. Expected jams include Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Aruna Asaf Ali Road, Minto Road, Desh Bandhu Gupta Road and Barakhamba Road, plus areas around Kamla Market and Hamdard Chowk. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge declined to comment on participation by the Cockroach Janta Party, which founder Abhijeet Dipke has pledged support. The party’s slogan "GYANU MUST GO!" was posted on X. AISA president Neha Bora also backed the rally, demanding Kumar’s resignation, a halt to the SIR and repeal of the 2023 law. CPI(M) MP John Brittas predicted a crowd of one million, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav confirmed his party will join and urged better voter‑ID photos. Haryana Congress leaders Sanjay Dutt and Rao Narendra Singh organised meetings in Karnal, Panipat and Sonipat to mobilise state support.

Context

The protest follows a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had repeatedly objected to the SIR process, fueling opposition claims of electoral irregularities.