On Saturday, October 17, a senior officer of the Delhi Police confirmed that the Indian National Congress has received a no‑objection certificate to hold a public rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1. The permission, issued as a formal NOC, comes amid a wave of demonstrations across the capital and abroad that target the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Police Approval for Congress Rally
The police statement, released on October 17, indicated that the department has cleared the Congress‑led gathering after reviewing the request. The rally is expected to draw large crowds, given the heightened public interest in the electoral‑roll revision process and the broader criticism of the Election Commission’s recent actions. The approval does not signal any endorsement of the rally’s agenda; it merely fulfills the procedural requirement for large‑scale assemblies in the city.
Opposition’s Campaign Against SIR and the CEC
Parallel to the administrative clearance, opposition forces have intensified their campaign against what they describe as a “vote theft” operation. The Congress party has appointed 208 senior members as observers to monitor the nationwide “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao” (Save Your Vote, Save the Country) drive, a coordinated effort to challenge the SIR and to safeguard voter rights.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh publicly condemned the Election Commission’s October 15 order to release “readable” electoral rolls to political parties. Ramesh argued that the commission had resisted such a move since 2018, only relenting because “the whole nation is on the streets against the Vote Chors.” He called for the immediate suspension of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, whom he accused of acting on instructions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, and demanded that the SIR, which he said jeopardised the voting rights of 13 crore Indians, be halted.
In a related development, the Election Commission announced an annual Special Summary Revision (SSR) covering 17 states and union territories, including those with upcoming polls. The final revised rolls are slated for completion by January 4, 2026, and, for the first time, political parties will receive “readable” versions of the rolls at both draft and final stages.
Local grievances have also surfaced. Pedada Parameswara Rao, former president of the Srikakulam District Congress Committee, reported on October 17 that thousands of migrant labourers from Srikakulam district lost their names from the electoral roll during the SIR, despite their families and Aadhaar addresses remaining registered in the district. Rao highlighted that more than five lakh people from the district have temporarily migrated for work, and he urged the Election Commission to restore the affected voters’ rights.
Data released by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Delhi provides a partial view of the SIR’s progress. Of the 33.12 lakh cases flagged as “no‑mapping” or “logical discrepancy,” approximately 26 lakh have been resolved, representing a 78.5 percent clearance rate. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have been conducting field visits to collect supporting documents from electors with disputed entries, underscoring the commission’s stated objective of leaving no eligible voter excluded.
Legal Challenges and Supreme Court Involvement
The judicial arena has also become a focal point of the controversy. The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre following a petition filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which challenges the lifelong immunity granted to the CEC and Election Commissioners for actions performed in the discharge of official duties. The court’s intervention signals a willingness to scrutinise the legal protections afforded to senior election officials.
In a separate matter, a Supreme Court‑appointed panel tasked with investigating the July 20 protests against a NEET paper leak has been instructed to prioritise inquiries into the use of pellet guns, targeted violence, and harassment of female protesters. The panel’s mandate also includes examining excessive violence and property destruction on either side of the clashes.
Academic and columnist Apporvanad Jha has secured the court’s agreement to hear a written submission arguing that equating peaceful protest with a breach of peace constitutes a “ploy” by the central government and Delhi Police to facilitate preventive detentions. Jha’s petition, filed under a criminal writ challenging prohibitory orders issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), adds another layer to the legal contest surrounding the right to demonstrate.
The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) has taken to social media to allege police brutality against student demonstrators, describing “ruthless beatings, threats to kill, humiliation, and mistreatment of female students.” The IYC warned of “strict legal action” against officials it accuses of “thuggery in uniform,” urging Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah to recognise that the nation’s youth does not fear them.
Internationally, the opposition’s message has found resonance among the Indian diaspora. On October 17, hundreds of participants gathered at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Parliament Square, London, to protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR. The demonstration, organised by the Opposition Congress and UK‑based Indian student groups, was mirrored by a counter‑rally supporting Prime Minister Modi, with police keeping the two factions separated.
Within the capital, the anti‑CEC movement has continued despite police action. Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), was released from preventive detention after signing a peace bond on October 17. Sporadic protests, largely led by women activists, persisted into the eighth day of the agitation.
Opposition leaders have also accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of seeking to “capture institutions” in order to remain in power indefinitely. They rebuffed the government’s narrative that the street protests aimed at a “Bangladesh‑like regime change,” asserting instead that the demonstrations reflect genuine concerns over electoral integrity.
As the scheduled Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan approaches, the confluence of political, legal, and grassroots pressures underscores a volatile pre‑election environment. The rally will likely serve as both a platform for the Congress to articulate its stance on the SIR and a flashpoint for further confrontation between protestors, law‑enforcement agencies, and the Election Commission.
Stakeholders across the spectrum are watching closely. The Supreme Court’s forthcoming decisions on the ADR petition and on the breach‑of‑peace challenge could reshape the legal framework governing election officials. Meanwhile, the Election Commission’s rollout of “readable” rolls and its efforts to resolve mapping discrepancies will be evaluated for effectiveness and fairness. The outcome of the November 1 rally may provide a barometer of public sentiment ahead of the finalisation of the electoral rolls in early 2026.
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