New Delhi wakes up to a political Sunday today, November 1, with rival mobilisations set to play out across the capital. At the centre is the INDIA bloc’s gathering at Ramlila Maidan, and a march its leaders say will take supporters from near Connaught Place to the rally ground at noon.
The opposition says the rally protests alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, and demands Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign. The BJP has answered with counter events, turning one opposition show of strength into a citywide faceoff.
The noon march and the permission row
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi invited supporters on Saturday to assemble at the Minto Road junction near Connaught Place at 12 noon on Sunday, then walk via Ajmeri Gate to Ramlila Maidan.
Delhi Police have drawn a sharp line between the rally and the march. Officials said the gathering at Ramlila Maidan has clearance, but no application or formal intimation had been received for a procession from Minto Road.
The distinction matters. Police issued a no objection certificate on October 17 for the November 1 gathering, with the ground reserved from October 25 to November 3. That clearance requires the rally to end by 5 pm, organisers to regulate vehicles and deploy volunteers, and no marches to destinations other than Ramlila Maidan.
Security and traffic: what to expect
Thousands of police personnel are expected on duty around Ramlila Maidan, supported by reserve forces, CCTV surveillance, body worn cameras and control rooms tracking crowd movement. Traffic restrictions and diversions are planned between 10 am and 5 pm, subject to conditions on the ground. Commuters heading through central Delhi, especially around Delhi Gate, Ajmeri Gate, the ITO crossing and Netaji Subhash Marg, should allow extra time.
Traders near the venue have also raised concerns. Ramlila Maidan sits close to major wholesale markets, and trade bodies have warned that barricades and incoming rally vehicles could hit business during festive shopping ahead of Diwali. The Chamber of Trade and Industry had urged that the rally be deferred until after November 10, a request the opposition did not accept.
BJP counters in Hari Nagar and Rohtak
In West Delhi’s Hari Nagar, BJP workers and Sikh citizens march at 11 am, led by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra cited hurt to Sikh sentiments, festive trade disruption, and new winter pollution rules.
In the BJP’s telling, the date is the core issue. November 1 falls in the period when anti Sikh violence broke out in 1984 after Indira Gandhi’s assassination on October 31 that year. BJP leaders call a Congress led show of strength on this date insensitive, and demand an apology.
A second BJP mobilisation is planned in Haryana. BJP president Nitin Nabin is set to lead a march in Rohtak on November 1 under the banner Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao, with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini expected to join.
Why the opposition is marching
For the INDIA bloc, Sunday is the street leg of a campaign that has so far played out in press conferences and Parliament. The alliance alleges the SIR exercise has led to wrongful deletions from voter lists. The BJP and the Election Commission reject those charges, and the BJP has described the campaign as an attack on democratic institutions.
On Saturday, INDIA bloc leaders held a symbolic public impeachment of the Chief Election Commissioner at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence. Former Speaker Meira Kumar presided, Kharge moved the motion, and Rahul Gandhi backed it. The BJP called it a mockery of Parliament.
The pollution twist
Delhi’s winter action plan against air pollution also comes into force on November 1, with vehicles below BS VI standards facing restrictions on entering the city. The BJP has warned that if police stop older vehicles carrying opposition workers, the opposition could accuse the government of sabotaging the rally.
For commuters, the advice is simple: avoid central Delhi routes through the middle of the day if possible, and expect heavy deployment around Ramlila Maidan and Hari Nagar. The test is whether the noon march proceeds peacefully and both sides stick to permitted routes and timings.
FAQs
What is happening in Delhi on November 1?
The INDIA bloc is holding a rally at Ramlila Maidan, with a noon march planned from Minto Road via Ajmeri Gate. The BJP is holding counter marches in Hari Nagar and Rohtak the same day.
Is the Ramlila Maidan rally permitted?
Yes. A no objection certificate was issued on October 17, with the ground reserved from October 25 to November 3 and the rally required to end by 5 pm.
Why does Delhi Police object to the march?
Police say no application was received for a procession from Minto Road, as distinct from the rally itself. Rally clearance does not automatically cover a march through central Delhi.
Why is the BJP protesting the same day?
BJP leaders cite the 1984 anti Sikh riots anniversary, disruption to festive trade, and the start of winter pollution restrictions on November 1.
What does the opposition demand?
The resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the SIR, alleging wrongful voter deletions. The BJP rejects those allegations.
Delhi will be watched closely till the 5 pm deadline.
