NEW DELHI: The opposition INDIA bloc will hold its ‘Chalo Dilli’ march at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 to protest alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and demand the resignation of chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, with Delhi Police putting extensive security arrangements in place for the rally.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the march would begin at noon from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction and culminate at Ramlila Maidan. He shared the details during an ‘Ask Me’ session on Instagram.Deputy commissioner of police (Central) Rohit Rajbir said on Friday that the police were keeping a close watch on potential attempts by “nefarious elements” to disrupt the gathering. Additional police personnel, local police teams and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be deployed to ensure security.“We’ve put in extensive police personnel and camera coverage arrangements for the rally. We have our local police also stationed here. We’ll also get the help of Central Armed Police Forces, which will be coming in to assist us during this arrangement. We are putting in around 200 to 250 CCTV cameras also, so that the whole area is covered and we can keep a check,” Rajbir told ANI.He said the police were in continuous coordination with the rally organisers and pointed out that Ramlila Maidan had hosted several political gatherings this year.“We are in continuous touch with the organisers. This is not the first time that a political rally is happening here. Ramlila Maidan is generally known for holding political rallies. We’ve had three or four political rallies this year itself. Those have been organised by different political parties,” Rajbir said.Highlighting the security concerns, the DCP said the police were particularly alert to any elements that could attempt to disturb the gathering.“The sensitivity is enhanced in a way that we have to keep a check on some nefarious elements who may try to disrupt the whole rally. That is one angle that the police are working on,” he said.The rally will take place between 10am and 5pm, Rajbir added. Delhi Police have also put in place several CCTV cameras and a face recognition system for the November 1 gathering.The INDIA bloc has planned the mega rally over the “vote chori” issue and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have alleged irregularities in voter lists and are demanding Kumar’s resignation.The bloc’s planned “public impeachment” of Kumar, which was earlier scheduled for Friday, has been postponed to October 31 due to incessant rain in the national capital.In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said, “Due to incessant rain the Public Impeachment of Gyanesh Kumar organised by the INDIA janbandhan has been rescheduled to tomorrow October 31st at 2.30pm. This will be followed by the ‘Chalo Dilli’ Ramlila March on Sunday November 1,” Ramesh said on X.“The countdown to the exit of Gyanesh kumar who has so blatantly and brazenly subverted and sabotaged the Constitution of India on the instructions of the PM-HM duo is accelerating,” he said.On Thursday, Gandhi had urged people to join the November 1 march, asking them not to worry about police and their “lathis”. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha asserted that the BJP “will not have the guts to try any of their antics”.Gandhi said the march was aimed at saving democracy, putting an end to “vote theft” and protecting the Constitution. He also urged student groups, irrespective of their political affiliation, to participate in the rally.
