Rahul Gandhi warns Narendra Modi, says INDIA bloc is ready to remove him from power

Millat Times Desk

01 November 2026 (Publish: 12:52 PM IST)

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Thousands of people gathered at Delhi’s historic Ramlila Maidan on Sunday as opposition parties under the INDIA bloc organised a major rally demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the controversial revision of electoral rolls. The rally, held under the slogan ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ (Save the Vote, Save the Nation), witnessed the participation of several prominent opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav.

The rally focused on allegations of voter deletions during the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Opposition leaders accused the Election Commission of removing eligible voters from electoral rolls and demanded transparency in the electoral process. They said the right to vote was fundamental to Indian democracy and called on citizens to unite against what they described as vote theft.

Leaders of the INDIA bloc arrived at the venue in open jeeps, travelling through crowds of supporters who gathered to welcome them. Party workers carried flags, raised slogans and expressed support for the opposition’s campaign. Protesters chanted “Save the vote, save the country” and “Vote thief, give up power” as thousands gathered at the ground.

Addressing the gathering, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched a strong attack on the BJP leadership and warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the opposition’s campaign would continue.

Speaking about the demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, Gandhi indicated that the INDIA bloc would take its political fight further.

“Next in the row is PM Modi. We are ready to remove PM from his seat,” Gandhi said.

His remarks drew attention as he extended the opposition’s challenge beyond the Chief Election Commissioner to the top leadership of the BJP-led government.

Gandhi said the movement was about protecting India’s democracy, the Constitution and the voting rights of ordinary citizens. He and other INDIA bloc leaders called for unity against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls, saying that every eligible citizen must have an equal opportunity to participate in elections.

Neha Bora, addressing the gathering, spoke about the importance of voting rights and equal citizenship in India. She said that every individual should enjoy equal status and that the principle of equality was reflected in the country’s one-person, one-vote system.

“In India, every individual will have equal status, and that equal status is denoted by our single vote. When you snatch that vote away from us and turn us into second-class citizens in our own country, declaring us outsiders – the Muslims of this country, the women of this country, the Dalits and Adivasis of this country, the poor labourers of this country – you are undermining that equality,” she said.

Bora also questioned the repeated demands for documents and proof of citizenship from ordinary people, particularly those belonging to marginalised communities.

She said people were being made to stand in long queues and repeatedly establish their citizenship despite being residents of the country.

“We ask you: Who are you – the ones who for years refused to hoist the Indian flag, refused to put the tricolour in your offices – to demand proof from the people of India?” she asked.

Her remarks highlighted concerns about the possible impact of voter-list revisions on Muslims, women, Dalits, Adivasis and economically weaker sections.

Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also addressed the rally, accusing the BJP of crossing the limits of injustice.

Referring to voter deletions in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav claimed that 1.27 crore votes had been reduced and said that the state’s chief minister had acknowledged the figure.

“The limits of injustice have been crossed. The UP Chief Minister himself has admitted that 1.27 crore votes have been reduced,” he said.

Taking a dig at the BJP’s political slogan of a double-engine government, Yadav said those who once spoke about a double-engine government had now become “double zero”.

Describing the gathering as a movement against injustice and false promises, he called on people from all sections of society to join the campaign.

“This is a movement against injustice and false promises, and everyone affected should join us at Ramlila Maidan to save the vote and save the nation,” Yadav said.

He urged citizens to come forward to protect their voting rights and participate in the movement.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was among the prominent opposition leaders participating in the rally alongside Rahul Gandhi.

The leaders emphasised the need for opposition unity and called for collective action to protect democratic institutions and electoral rights.

The gathering brought together leaders and workers from several opposition parties, presenting a united front against the BJP-led government and the Election Commission over the SIR exercise.

The INDIA bloc maintained that the removal of eligible voters from electoral rolls could undermine the people’s mandate and affect the fairness of elections.

The central demand of Sunday’s rally was the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition leaders accused the Election Commission of failing to ensure transparency in the voter-list revision process.

The Election Commission, however, has maintained that the Special Intensive Revision is intended to identify deceased voters, people who have shifted their registered addresses and individuals who are otherwise ineligible to remain on electoral rolls.

Opposition parties have questioned the process, claiming that eligible voters have also been removed without adequate explanation. They have called for proper verification and safeguards to ensure that no genuine voter loses their right to vote.

The controversy has become a major political issue, with opposition parties repeatedly raising concerns over the reported deletion of approximately 130 million names from draft electoral rolls across the revision exercise. The BJP and the Election Commission have rejected allegations of deliberately manipulating voter lists.

Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in large numbers around Ramlila Maidan to maintain security and manage the gathering. Barricades were installed, and traffic restrictions were imposed in several parts of central Delhi.

Despite the security arrangements, supporters continued to gather at the venue, carrying party flags and raising slogans in support of the INDIA bloc’s campaign.

The rally concluded with opposition leaders reiterating their demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and promising to continue their campaign for electoral transparency.

The gathering ended with a common message from the opposition: Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao. Leaders said the fight was not limited to one political party but concerned the democratic rights of every eligible Indian citizen.