Stressing that everybody is equal and has the right to vote in India's Constitution, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday asserted that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will remain a part of India.

Addressing the INDIA bloc's rally against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, Abdullah criticised the BJP and RSS over what he described as attempts to portray Muslims as outsiders and question their patriotism.

"These people point fingers at Muslims and call them Pakistanis. I want to tell the BJP and RSS: We have given our blood for India. We gave it in the past, we are giving it today, and we will give it tomorrow," he said.

"This is Ambedkar's Constitution. This is India's Constitution. We are all equal, and everyone has an equal vote. Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will remain a part of India. They will not be able to separate it," he declared.

(ANI)

The Janata Dal (United) on Sunday questioned the unity of opposition parties at the INDIA bloc rally here, saying they come together for rallies and meetings but contest elections against each other.

The party asserted that an alliance without consensus on leadership, common agenda and issues has no justification to continue.

JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad told PTI that the Congress must understand the people's mandate and respect democratic processes, reacting to the "Modi hatao, loktantra bachao" slogan raised at the rally.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received the people's mandate for a third consecutive term. On the other hand, the people have given the Congress the mandate to sit in the opposition. The Congress must understand the essence of this mandate and respect democratic processes," he said.

His remarks came after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, addressing the rally on the alleged "vote chori", accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Bihar, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh of being formed on "stolen" mandates and called for removing Modi to save democracy.

(PTI)

BJP MP Sambit Patra, reacting to the Opposition's charge that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were "illegal", said that "if the 2024 elections were illegal, then the LoP and all their MPs, including Kharge, would also be illegal."

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sambit Patra took a jibe at the opposition bloc's rally at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi today by pointing at the empty space at the venue. 

"You can see in the background that 40 percent of the Ramlila Maidan, 40% of the space, was vacant. Rahul Gandhi and his team claimed that 10 lakh people would attend. Out of 28,000 chairs, around 5,000–7,000 were empty at 3:30–4 PM. This is the reality behind Congress's claim of 10 lakh attendees..." Patra said. 

#WATCH | Delhi: BJP MP Sambit Patra says, "You can see in the background that 40 percent of the Ramlila Maidan, 40% of the space, was vacant. Rahul Gandhi and his team claimed that 10 lakh people would attend. Out of 28,000 chairs, around 5,000–7,000 were empty at 3:30–4 PM. This is the reality behind Congress's claim of 10 lakh attendees..."

— ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2026

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said the Ramlila Maidan has turned into the "Haldighati of democracy" with a massive turnout of people and asserted that this is indicative of change that is in the offing, as he asserted that those who came to power at the Centre through Uttar Pradesh will also exit from there.

Taking a dig at the BJP, Yadav said those who speak of having a firm, immovable stance -- likening it to the unshakeable foot of Angad -- should consider where they would even place that foot, given that there is no ground left to stand on.

Addressing the ‘INDIA’ bloc rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan against "vote chori", Akhilesh referred to the recent MLC polls and said the people of Kashi (Varanasi) have reduced the "double-engine" government to a ‘double zero.’

Raising the issue of names being removed from electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief stated, "As this public meeting was being organised at Ramlila Maidan, it was reported that the votes of 1.27 lakh Hindu brethren in Uttar Pradesh had been deleted—which translates to a reduction of 31,000 votes in every assembly constituency."

(PTI)

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said at the INDIA bloc rally on Sunday that the people of Uttar Pradesh know how to welcome and how to bid farewell even better, claiming that in the next year's UP assembly polls, Bharatiya Janata Party will not return. 

"In 2027, such a farewell will happen that the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies will not be able to return again. Today, Ramlila Maidan has turned into the Haldighati of democracy. The massive public support and slogans of revolution are proof that change can happen at any moment," he said.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi claimed while addressing the INDIA bloc rally that for years, "vote theft has been happening in this country".

"Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, in all these elections, vote theft has occurred. Votes have been stolen through EVMs and by deleting and adding names to voter lists," he said. 

#WATCH | INDIA bloc mega rally | Delhi: Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "For years, vote theft has been happening in this country. Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, in all these elections, vote theft has occurred. Votes have been stolen through EVMs and by deleting and adding names to voter lists." (Source: ANI/Congress)

— ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2026

Former Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee referred to Sonia Gandhi as "leader" and Rahul Gandhi as "young leader" while addressing the INDIA bloc's rally at Ramlila Maidan. 

"We will not let this go. We will fight. They looted our Bengal. We in Delhi... we will save democracy," Banerjee said. 

"The BJP will go, will go, will go," she added. 

Union Minister JP Nadda on Sunday lashed out at Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over the INDIA bloc's 'Chalo Dilli' march, calling it a "calculated conspiracy to sow chaos" in the country, while claiming that the rally will prove to be the "final nail in the coffin of the Congress' political decline".

Calling the Opposition's rally a "well-orchestrated political drama" staged by those "repeatedly rejected by the public, Nadda, the former BJP chief, said that the people will "no longer fall for their deceptions".

Addressing a press conference here, Nadda said: "What is unfolding today at Ramlila Maidan is not an act of respect for democracy; rather, it is a calculated conspiracy to sow chaos -- to plunge the nation into anarchy under the guise of democratic principles. It is nothing more than a foolish, well-orchestrated political drama staged by those who have been defeated and repeatedly rejected by the people. The public understands this perfectly well."

"I wish to reveal Rahul Gandhi's model of politics to the nation today. Its first phase involves spreading lies and creating an uproar. The second phase entails inciting chaos and disorder on the streets. The third phase involves damaging the nation's economy. And the fourth phase is an attempt to destabilise an elected government at the behest of foreign powers," he alleged.

(IANS)

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said while addressing the INDIA bloc's rally in Delhi that while the Ramlila Maidan is traditionally meant for staging the Ramayana, today, they have organised "a 'Mahabharata' for those who steal votes".

"You are all aware of the game Shakuni played in the Mahabharata. You know your history: the Mahabharata began not on a battlefield, but with a game of dice. And now that Shakuni is playing his game, we are compelled to fight the battle..." he added. 

#WATCH | INDIA bloc mega rally | Delhi: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, "While the Ramlila Maidan is traditionally meant for staging the Ramayana, today we have organised a 'Mahabharata' for those who steal votes. You are all aware of the game Shakuni played in the Mahabharata. You know your history: the Mahabharata began not on a battlefield, but with a game of dice. And now that Shakuni is playing his game, we are compelled to fight the battle..." (Source: ANI/Congress)

— ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2026

Union minister Amit Shah has said that Rahul Gandhi's Delhi rally will "only rub salt in the wounds" of 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims, referring to the anniversary today.

Speaking at an event in Chandigarh, he said the Congress had been advised against holding its rally on November 1, given the date's emotional significance for the Sikh community.

चंडीगढ़ प्रशासन की ₹258 करोड़ की विभिन्न विकास परियोजनाओं के लोकार्पण एवं शिलान्यास समारोह को संबोधित कर रहा हूँ... https://t.co/uCwh54i3jY

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 1, 2026

Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders have reached Ramlila Maidan.

Congress' Rahul Gandhi has alleged that the BJP had "forcibly" shut the shops at Connaught Place. In a video while heading to the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction, Gandhi said the INDIA bloc had appealed to those attending the opposition bloc's rally to do their shopping here, so that the shopkeepers could benefit.

"But upon reaching Connaught Place, we learned that the BJP has forcibly shut down all the shops. The country is watching how the BJP is causing loss to the shopkeepers," he alleged.

हमने रैली में आने वालों से यहां शॉपिंग करने की अपील की थी, जिससे दुकानदारों का फायदा हो सके। लेकिन कनॉट प्लेस आते समय पता चला है कि BJP ने जबरदस्ती सारी दुकानें बंद करवा दी हैं। देश देख रहा है कि BJP दुकानदारों का नुकसान कर रही है। : नेता विपक्ष श्री @RahulGandhi https://t.co/BUMHbpC7L9

— Congress (@INCIndia) November 1, 2026

Union minister JP Nadda has slammed the INDIA bloc's rally as a "foolish and designed drama" and said it will prove to be the final "nail in the coffin" of Congress' "political downfall".

Nadda alleged that the protest was part of a well-thought-out conspiracy to surrender democracy to anarchy and disorder.

"Removing the democratically elected government by conspiring to spread riots and anarchy in Delhi, adversely impacting the earnings of shopkeepers and traders in Delhi during the festive season and defaming the country are other objectives of the rally," he said.

आज रामलीला मैदान में जो कुछ हो रहा है, वह लोकतंत्र का सम्मान नहीं, बल्कि लोकतंत्र के नाम पर देश को अराजकता के हवाले करने की एक सोची-समझी साजिश है। यह हारे हुए और जनता द्वारा बार-बार नकारे गए लोगों का एक मूर्खतापूर्ण और सुनियोजित नाटक है, जिसे जनता भली-भांति समझती है। राहुल गांधी, कान खोलकर सुन लो, आप 1 नवंबर के काले इतिहास को नहीं छिपा सकते और न ही दिल्ली के व्यापारियों के आँसुओं का हिसाब देने से बच सकते हैं। भारत एक सशक्त लोकतंत्र है, जो आपकी ‘दंगा आधारित राजनीति’ से नहीं, बल्कि संविधान और जनता के जनादेश से चलेगा। आपकी यह रैली कांग्रेस के राजनीतिक पतन के ताबूत में आखिरी कील साबित होगी।

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) November 1, 2026

"The day of November 1 is the ugliest and darkest blot on India's democratic history. On this very day, goons patronised by Congress massacred our innocent Sikh brothers. Thousands and lakhs of Sikh families became homeless overnight," he added.

“Whatever is happening today at Ramlila Maidan is not respect for democracy, but a well-thought-out conspiracy to surrender democracy to anarchy and disorder.

"This is a foolish and designed drama of people who have been defeated and repeatedly rejected by the public. The public understands this very well,” he charged.

हम रामलीला मैदान आ रहे हैं! #ChaloDilli https://t.co/ldKMeJfygD

— Congress (@INCIndia) November 1, 2026

Amid the INDIA bloc's rally in Delhi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin is leading a 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' march in Haryana's Rohtak to counter the Opposition's narrative.

Nabin is leading the march against what the BJP describes as the Opposition's "misinformation, propaganda and orchestrated chaos".

BJP National President Shri @NitinNabin participates in #SaveDemocracyRemoveAnarchy March in Rohtak, Haryana. https://t.co/cOR4jKnuea

— BJP (@BJP4India) November 1, 2026

INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress' Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, and Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, have started their march towards Ramlila Maidan.

LIVE: Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao Maha March | CP Minto Road Junction to Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi. https://t.co/UBuMz4ojDM

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 1, 2026

#WATCH | Delhi: INDIA bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Farooq Abdullah, Tejashwi Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, Supriya Sule, Abhishek Banerjee, KC Venugopal and others move towards Ramlila Maidan for INDIA bloc's mega rally. (Source: ANI/Congress) https://t.co/3ysQsPAWZ3

— ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2026

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri is currently leading the BJP's protest march in the Sikh-dominated Hari Nagar area of West Delhi over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots to attack the Congress for the timing of its 'Chalo Dilli' march and rally at Ramlila Maidan.

Live- सिखों की भावनाओं को आहत करने के विरोध में केंद्रीय मंत्री श्री @HardeepSPuri जी के नेतृत्व में पदयात्रा। @Vinay1011 @DarshanaJardosh @hdmalhotra @gupta_rekha @hsphoolka #SaveDemocracyRemoveAnarchy #लोकतंत्र_बचाओ_अराजकता_हटाओ https://t.co/lOFHTpHDg6

— BJP Delhi (@BJP4Delhi) November 1, 2026

The INDIA bloc has said it expects a turnout of up to 10 lakh people. Ramlila Maidan, however, can accommodate 45,000 to 50,000 people when empty, but its capacity is estimated to come down to 30,000-40,000 with chairs, enclosures and designated passageways in place.

Photo Credit: PTI

Ahead of the INDIA bloc's march in Delhi, former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has said that "democracy is in danger".

Speaking to NDTV, the Congress leader said that the rally is a "chance to save democracy".

#BREAKING | Opposition Leaders Turn Up Heat At Protest "Pawan Khera: Aane wala toofan Gyanesh Kumar ko le jayega, ab khata toh settle hoga." "Ashok Gehlot: Woh ghabra rahe hain, democracy khatre mein hai." "Akhilesh Yadav: Jinke vote gayab hain, woh lakhon labharthi bhi Ramlila Maidan aa jayein." Top Opposition leaders launch a sharp attack during the protest, escalating the political showdown over the CEC row and voter list controversy. #OppositionProtest #RamlilaMaidan @Vasudha156 @PadmajaJoshi

— NDTV (@ndtv) November 1, 2026

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has made a fresh appeal, urging people to join the 'Chalo Dilli' march.

"Delhi, get ready! Save the Vote, Save the Nation. Come to Connaught Place, let's march together. Or meet directly at Ramlila Maidan - but you must come," he wrote in Hindi on X.

दिल्ली, तैयार हो जाओ! वोट बचाओ, देश बचाओ। कनॉट प्लेस आइए, साथ चलते हैं। या सीधे रामलीला मैदान में मिलते हैं - मगर, आना ज़रूर है। आज | 🕛 दोपहर 12 बजे #ChaloDilli https://t.co/ZnBBFCETmz

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 1, 2026

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has extended support to the INDIA bloc rally, but said the CJP would retain its independent identity and not join the protest by the opposition parties.

"We stand in solidarity, but the Cockroach Janta Party is an independent organisation; it is a neutral platform, and we want to keep it that way," he said.

Nearly 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel, including Delhi Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), CRPF and Rapid Action Force (RAF), have been deployed across central and New Delhi.

Heavy security and traffic checks in place near the Constitution Club as INDIA bloc leaders and supporters gather for the march. Police deployment has been intensified across key routes leading to Ramlila Maidan ahead of the high-profile Opposition rally. Stay tuned for the latest ground updates from Delhi. #INDIABloc #RamlilaMaidan #Delhi @PadmajaJoshi @Somyajaiswal__ @TanushkaDutta @tejshreethought @Verma__Ishika

— NDTV (@ndtv) November 1, 2026

Amid the INDIA bloc's rally in Delhi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin is also set to lead a 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' march in Haryana's Rohtak to counter the Opposition's narrative.

Nabin will lead the march against what the BJP describes as the Opposition's "misinformation, propaganda and orchestrated chaos".

#BREAKING | BJP Targets Congress Ahead Of Ramlila Rally The BJP has stepped up its attack on the Congress ahead of the Ramlila Maidan rally, saying the 1984 anti-Sikh riots massacre cannot be forgotten and accusing the party of ignoring the pain of victims' families. Also watch ground reactions and the key demands of people arriving at Ramlila Maidan as the political showdown intensifies in the national capital. @PadmajaJoshi @deekbhardwaj @Vasudha156 @JainendraKumar

— NDTV (@ndtv) November 1, 2026

The BJP holds a march in West Delhi to remember those killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, with the party accusing the Congress of holding its rally on the anniversary of the violence. The protest march begins in the Sikh-dominated Hari Nagar area and will conclude at Tilak Nagar metro station.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi-led 'Chalo Dilli' march demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar begins from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction at noon, and will culminate at Ramlila Maidan, where the INDIA bloc will hold a rally.

How many party workers have gathered at Ramlila Maidan? What is the mood on the ground as the Opposition's mega rally gets underway? Watch NDTV's ground report for live updates on crowd turnout, slogans, political messaging and reactions from supporters arriving at the venue. @PadmajaJoshi @Ankit_Tyagi01

— NDTV (@ndtv) November 1, 2026

The BJP and the INDIA bloc are holding rival marches in Delhi today, with the Opposition camp targeting the Election Commission over alleged electoral roll irregularities and the ruling party taking out the rally over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots to attack the Congress for the timing of its 'Chalo Dilli' march.