- INDIA bloc held rally at Ramlila Maidan against "vote chori".
- Wives of Kejriwal, Soren addressed the massive gathering in 2024.
- Alliance dynamics shifting, including AAP's changing stance.
INDIA Bloc Ramlila Maidan Rally: The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc held a massive rally against alleged "vote chori" and to press for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation on Sunday. INDIA bloc leaders scaled up their agitation against the government over the alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive. The show of unity in the Opposition camp has reminded of a similar gathering under the same banner on the same ground around two years ago. But in around two and a half years, several things have changed, including the Aam Aadmi Party's stand.
#WATCH | INDIA bloc mega rally | Delhi: Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "I am telling you, poor Gyanesh Kumar cannot sleep at night. I feel bad that Gyanesh Kumar is scared and cannot sleep at night. But he has committed the biggest crime, trying to silence the voice and soul of the nation. But we are not people of hatred or enmity. We are people of love. We want to bring love and brotherhood back to this country. This protest does not belong to any single party or leader. This is a united protest. This is India's protest, India's voice." (Source: ANI/Congress)
— ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2026
'Loktantra Bachao' Rally Against ED, CBI's Actions
According to the Opposition leaders, the INDIA bloc's 'Loktantra Bachao' rally held on March 31, 2024, aimed at saving the Constitution and democracy, following arrests of then Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren.
In a show of opposition unity ahead of the Lok Sabha polls 2024, INDIA bloc leaders came together at the 'Loktantra Bachao' rally at the Ramlila ground.
Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, AAP leader and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, senior AAP leader Gopal Rai, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI general secretary D Raja, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren were among the top Opposition leaders who attended the rally.
Recommended For You
Kejriwal And Hemant Soren's Wives Were At The Centre Of The Rally
Kalpana Soren and Sunita Kejriwal, wives of Hemant Soren and Arvind Kejriwal, who were jailed in corruption-related cases, participated in the rally and attacked the government.
Speaking at the rally, Kalpana said, “I am standing in front of you as the voice of 50 per cent of India’s women population and 9 per cent of the tribal community. Today, this gathering on this historic ground is testifying that you all have come from every part of the country to end the dictatorship.”
While Kejriwal's wife Sunita delivered an emotive speech citing the arrest of her husband and then Delhi CM. "Your own Kejriwal has sent a message for you from jail. Before reading this message, I would like to ask you something. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi put my husband in jail, did the Prime Minister do the right thing? Do you believe that Kejriwal Ji is a true patriot and honest person? These BJP people are saying that Kejriwal ji is in jail, he should resign. Should he resign? Your Kejriwal is a lion, they will not be able to keep him in jail for long," she said.
What Has Changed Now?
The biggest change in the November 1 Ramlila Maidan rally is the absence of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann. The AAP has distanced itself from the INDIA bloc's protest amid a growing bitter relationship with Congress, a rival in election-bound Punjab. Like in 2024, they have a common political enemy and issue that hurt both, yet Kejriwal chose not to take risk ahead of the Punjab polls, only to find it is power after losing Delhi.
#WATCH | INDIA alliance rally: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal says, "Your own Kejriwal has sent a message for you from jail. Before reading this message, I would like to ask you something. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi put my husband in jail, did the Prime Minister do the right thing? Do you believe that Kejriwal Ji is a true patriot and honest person? These BJP people are saying that Kejriwal ji is in jail, he should resign. Should he resign? Your Kejriwal is a lion, they will not be able to keep him in jail for long..."
— ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2024
Another major change is support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led political movement, to the INDIA bloc's agitation. Abhijeet Dipke's CJP backed the Ramlila Maidan rally; however, he did not share the stage with INDIA bloc leaders.
Champai Soren, Who Joined Rally As Jharkhand CM, Is Now A BJP Man
Then Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM leader, Champai Soren, switched to the BJP in August 2924 just months after the Ramlila Maidan Rally. Ironically, Soren, who said at the rally that he would not allow the BJP’s ideology to flourish in Jharkhand or anywhere else in the country, is not a saffron party leader.
Sitaram Yechury No More
INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan was one of the last protests of CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury as he passed away in September 2024. In the rally, he said, “A new energy has been born in India’s politics today which is present here. This energy will bring victory to India’s Constitution and Democracy and will defeat the forces of dictatorship.”
(With Agenies Inputs)