INDIA Bloc Holds Chalo Delhi March Demanding CEC Resignation
Thousands of protesters from across North India converged at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday for the opposition INDIA bloc’s ‘Chalo Delhi’ march, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities. Demonstrators pointed to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the continued use of Electronic Voting Machines as central grievances driving the political mobilization.
High political tension gripped the capital as outstation workers reported that transit routes along the Punjab-Haryana border were deliberately blocked by police. Baljinder Singh, a protester travelling from Firozpur, stated that thousands of vehicles remained stranded overnight due to barricading on the corridor. Speaking to ANI, Singh claimed that over 10 lakh people were mobilized for the rally and asserted that the ruling administration sought to prevent participants from reaching the capital.
Protesters gathered outside Himachal Bhawan early Sunday morning before marching toward the venue, raising broader concerns over civic rights, youth issues, paper leaks, and systemic governance failures. Panna Lal Sharma, who travelled from Rajasthan, voiced opposition to paperless voting and called for a return to ballot paper polling to ensure electoral transparency. Madanpal Singh, Uttarakhand Congress Secretary, joined the ground demonstrations and stated that participants would not disperse until the Chief Election Commissioner steps down.
Opposition Coalition Challenges Election Commission over Voting Procedures
The opposition coalition organized the mass demonstration to challenge the Election Commission of India over institutional oversight and voting procedures. INDIA bloc members of parliament assembled at the Constitution Club at 11 am before proceeding at 12 noon from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction toward Ramlila Maidan.
Protesters including Gaurav Sharma from Himachal Pradesh argued that public democratic rights faced direct interference from central authorities. Demonstrators maintained that ongoing disputes over electoral roll revisions and voting machinery require immediate institutional accountability from election regulators.