New Delhi: Ramlila Maidan, one of the largest venues to host political rallies in India, witnessed the INDIA opposition bloc holding a “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao” rally on Sunday as a show of force against the Election Commission of India.

The controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) saw multiple leaders accuse the Election Commission of India (ECI) of leaving eligible voters, particularly from minority and weaker sections, off the list.

Leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Tejaswi Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, and others took an open-top truck from Minto Road-Connaught Place junction to the venue, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

“Some people were put under deceased status despite being alive,” a Congress leader said,

The commission had taken unilateral steps without consulting the other two Election Commissioners, he added.

Outside the rally, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP had forced Connaught Place to shut using his X handle.

The BJP has not been quiet about describing the rally as clashing with the party’s mobilisation against the 1984 riots.

Delhi traders also complained of losing Rs 10,000 crore in business during the Diwali period, which sparked controversy.

The rally, dubbed the biggest rally by Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal, to fight against vote chori.

According to reports, twenty-one parties are expected to participate in the rally.

Delhi Traffic Police have imposed restrictions in Central Delhi between 10 am and 5 pm, with 10 diversion points including ITO, Delhi Gate, Rajghat and Jhandewalan.

This rally comes after the Congress vote chori demonstration on the same ground back in December 2025.

Not all alliance members are united in this bloc rally as said by National Conference leader Omar Abdullah that there was nothing to do with the INDIA Bloc and Congress holding a rally regarding SIR.

The ECI said that SIR aims to detect deceased, permanently migrated, duplicate and untraceable data.

Eligible voters who have been left out can appeal to be added back to the rolls.

Furthermore, the ECI stated in an affidavit that it unanimously passed all three orders for SIR and ordered an audit of its voter roll software.

The ECI has said that 13.39 crore records have been categorised as missing, migrated, deceased or duplicate across the three phases.

Opposition leaders have used the figure of 13 crore as a sign that democracy is under threat.

Whether the rally will make any impact depends on what happens next, but the opposition has already turned to the President and Supreme Court.

The commission has said everything they have done is legal and can be corrected.

The debate over who should be considered a voter has moved from the courtroom and committee room to the streets of the capital.