Opposition to Hold ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ Rally in Delhi on November 1

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has appealed to people to participate in a mega rally titled “Save the Vote, Save the Country” on November 1, 2026, at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. The announcement comes amid opposition parties’ allegations of irregularities in electoral rolls and concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Kharge urged citizens to join the demonstration, describing it as an effort to protect the Constitution, democracy and voting rights.

In his message, Kharge also raised concerns about rising inflation during the festive season, accusing the government of failing to address the financial difficulties faced by ordinary citizens. He alleged that the ruling establishment was more focused on electoral politics than on the economic challenges affecting households. These remarks formed part of his broader criticism of the government and its handling of election-related issues.

Kharge accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of being responsible for alleged large-scale irregularities affecting voters’ rights. He further alleged that the election official had acted under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. These are allegations made by the Congress leadership and should not be treated as established facts without supporting evidence.

The opposition’s principal demands include the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the immediate suspension of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Opposition leaders have raised concerns about the process, arguing that the revision could affect eligible voters if adequate safeguards are not maintained. The Election Commission’s procedures and any specific allegations require examination against official records and applicable electoral rules.

The Special Intensive Revision is an exercise undertaken to review and update electoral rolls. Such revisions are intended to improve the accuracy of voter lists, but they can become politically contentious when parties raise concerns about the inclusion or exclusion of eligible voters. The debate has placed the transparency and implementation of the process at the centre of the opposition’s campaign.

The November 1 rally is expected to provide opposition parties with a platform to bring their concerns about voter registration and electoral procedures before the public. Kharge has called on citizens to participate enthusiastically, linking the campaign to the protection of constitutional principles and democratic participation. The event also offers opposition leaders an opportunity to coordinate their demands on electoral reforms.

The controversy surrounding voter-list revisions comes amid wider political disagreements between the opposition and the BJP-led government. While opposition parties have alleged that electoral irregularities threaten voting rights, assessing such claims requires verifiable evidence, official responses and scrutiny of the relevant electoral data. The rally is likely to keep these issues in public and political discussion.

The November 1 demonstration at Ramlila Maidan will mark another stage in the opposition’s “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao” campaign. Its immediate focus is on the demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and a halt to the SIR process, while the broader message centres on electoral transparency and democratic safeguards.

Further developments will depend on the response of the Election Commission, the government and other political stakeholders.