INDIA bloc plans mock impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and 1 November rally; Amit Shah reviews Delhi security

On 24 October Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal said the opposition INDIA bloc would hold a "public impeachment" of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi on 30 October, as part of its campaign against alleged "vote chori" (vote theft) in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. PTI reported that a "mock Parliament" would be held at Hotel Ashok, with opposition MPs and senior leaders expected, and that the bloc would announce a "public verdict" calling for Kumar's removal.Sources:1The Tribune: Congress to lead mock impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi on October 30, The Tribune, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2ThePrint: INDIA bloc to hold 'public impeachment' of CEC on Oct 30, ThePrint, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)

Venugopal said a "Dilli Chalo" march would follow and end at Ramlila Maidan on 1 November, and wrote that at least a million citizens would take part. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asked INDIA bloc parties to bring their leaders and members to Delhi. Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba said the rally would not be postponed despite suggestions linked to the festival season; Delhi Police had already granted permission for it, according to Congress leaders.Sources:1The Tribune: Congress to lead mock impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi on October 30, The Tribune, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2ThePrint: INDIA bloc to hold 'public impeachment' of CEC on Oct 30, ThePrint, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)5The NewsMill: India bloc plans November 1 'Dilli Chalo' march, BJP criticises date over Sikh sentiments, The NewsMill, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)

The same afternoon Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a security review of more than three hours at Delhi Police headquarters on Jai Singh Road, attended by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar. PTI, citing police sources, said the meeting covered handling protests "without escalation", preventing barricade breaches and reviewing the force's handling of the July and 10 October protests, which faced allegations of excessive force. ETV Bharat reported that Shah asked the commissioner to seek help from the Central Armed Police Forces for the 1 November rally.Sources:3ThePrint: Amit Shah reviews Delhi Police's preparedness for protests, law and order, ThePrint, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)4ETV Bharat: Home Minister Amit Shah Reviews Law And Order Situation Of New Delhi, ETV Bharat, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)

BJP leaders attacked the rally date. MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said Rahul Gandhi was "attempting to rub salt into the wounded sentiments of the Sikh community", because the 1984 anti-Sikh riots began around that date after Indira Gandhi's assassination; Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon called the rally insensitive and demanded an apology for 1984. Congress MP Jebi Mather said the date was a joint INDIA bloc decision and there was "nothing particular about the date", and CPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar called the BJP's remarks "senseless comments". No response from the Election Commission was reported.Sources:5The NewsMill: India bloc plans November 1 'Dilli Chalo' march, BJP criticises date over Sikh sentiments, The NewsMill, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)6ThePrint: Congress' Nov 1 rally insensitive to pain of Sikhs: Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon, ThePrint, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)

Delhi's Chamber of Trade and Industry asked that the rally be put off until after Bhai Dooj on 10 November, saying the festive shopping season was at stake; Congress leader Rashid Alvi accused the BJP of being behind the traders' letters and said police had granted permission for the event.Sources:4ETV Bharat: Home Minister Amit Shah Reviews Law And Order Situation Of New Delhi, ETV Bharat, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)5The NewsMill: India bloc plans November 1 'Dilli Chalo' march, BJP criticises date over Sikh sentiments, The NewsMill, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)