‘Protect Democracy, Constitution’: Kharge, Tejashwi Yadav, Akhilesh, Mamata and Neha Bora Target ECI, CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Delhi Rally

INDIA bloc leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Tejashwi Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and Neha Bora raised questions over the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar during events linked to the opposition's campaign to protect democracy and the Constitution at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, during INDIA bloc's rally. The leaders criticised the election process and raised concerns over alleged vote theft and the removal of voters' names from electoral lists.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed the INDIA bloc rally in Delhi on November 1. He reportedly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CEC Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the government was trying to influence the voting process. Kharge said opposition parties would continue their fight until Gyanesh Kumar left office. He also called on opposition parties to unite to protect the Constitution and democracy.

Kharge's Strong Remarks Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation at the INDIA bloc’s ‘Dilli Chalo’ rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. Kharge said the Opposition would continue its fight until Kumar resigned, warning that citizens would find him even if he tried to “hide underground”.

Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of attempting to deprive young people, women and minorities of their voting rights. He alleged that the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh had come to power through “vote theft”. He also said the INDIA bloc would not be intimidated by central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Earlier, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the rally was aimed at safeguarding citizens’ constitutional rights rather than advancing the interests of any political party. Opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Tharoor alleged that 130 million voters had been removed and called for a clean electoral register.h Kumar. According to the Live Hindustan report, she reportedly raised questions about the election process and alleged vote theft. The event was organised by INDIA bloc leaders to discuss a symbolic public impeachment motion against the Chief Election Commissioner.

Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav mocked the BJP’s “double-engine” slogan, calling it “double zero” following the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council (MLC) election results. The BJP won six of the 11 seats, while the Samajwadi Party secured five. Yadav also alleged counting irregularities and questioned recounts in key constituencies.

“BJP wants only its supporters to be recognised as Indian nationals and granted the right to vote,” he said.

Ahead of the INDIA bloc’s ‘Chalo Dilli’ rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, Yadav questioned claims about a reduction of 1.27 crore votes in Uttar Pradesh during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He asked why the issue was raised after the BJP’s MLC election losses and challenged the basis for claims that the missing votes belonged to Hindus.

Yadav also referred to claims that lakhs of government scheme beneficiaries were missing from voter lists, urging those affected to join the protest. The INDIA bloc rally was organised to oppose alleged electoral irregularities and raise concerns over the SIR exercise. These claims were made by opposition leaders and were not independently established in the report.

Mamata Banerjee

Trinamool Congress chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused Gyanesh Kumar of manipulating the counting process in West Bengal’s Assembly elections by allegedly “centrally hijacking” the system. Addressing the INDIA bloc’s ‘Dilli Chalo’ rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, she alleged that more than one crore voters had been removed from electoral rolls before the Assembly polls and said her party would continue fighting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Banerjee accused the BJP of undermining democracy, the Constitution and people’s voting rights. Claiming that her party had been defeated rather than losing the election, she said the Trinamool Congress would seek political revenge and continue its struggle. She also took a swipe at the CEC, calling him “Vanish Kumar”, and accused the BJP-led government of protecting him.

The former chief minister urged young people, civil society members and the group that had protested against the CEC to join the campaign to protect democracy. She also called on central agencies to remain impartial and not act as “puppets” of the BJP. Her remarks came as INDIA bloc leaders demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged electoral irregularities.

Neha Bora

All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora launched a sharp attack on the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) while addressing the INDIA bloc’s rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. She questioned their right to demand proof of citizenship from Indians, alleging that those who had once refused to hoist the national flag were now asking citizens to prove their nationality.

Bora said every citizen should enjoy equal status in India and described the right to vote as a symbol of that equality. She alleged that Muslims, women, Dalits, Adivasis and poor labourers were repeatedly made to stand in long queues and asked to provide proof of their citizenship, warning that such actions could turn them into “second-class citizens” in their own country.

She also accused the BJP and RSS of repeating tactics used by British colonial rulers, referring to peace bonds, arrests and alleged police action against people who took to the streets carrying the national flag. Her remarks came amid the INDIA bloc’s protest against alleged electoral irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.