UP Congress to Mobilize 2 Lakh Workers for 'Vote Theft' Protest in Delhi
UP Congress plans a massive 'Vote Theft' protest at Ramlila Maidan on Nov 1, demanding the CEC's resignation over electoral roll irregularities.
The Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee is gearing up for a massive showdown in the national capital. In a bold move to challenge alleged electoral discrepancies, the party is organizing a UP Congress Vote Theft rally on November 1, 2026, at Delhi's iconic Ramlila Maidan. The party has set an ambitious target to bring 2 lakh workers from across Uttar Pradesh to the heart of Delhi to voice their grievances.
The Core Demands: Electoral Integrity and Resignations
The protest is centered around allegations of irregularities regarding the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Congress party claims that these discrepancies constitute a "theft" of votes, undermining the democratic process. Consequently, the party is demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Kunwar Singh Nishad, the chairman of the media department, stated that the party is determined to transform this legal battle into a decisive public movement at Ramlila Maidan, regardless of the criticism leveled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
A Strategic Zonal Mobilization Plan
To ensure the rally reaches its target strength, UP Congress President Aradhana Mishra 'Mona' and state in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam have implemented a rigorous organizational strategy. The state has been divided into six zones for focused planning:
- Completed Sessions: Planning meetings for the Awadh, Bundelkhand, and Purvanchal zones have already been successfully conducted.
- Upcoming Meetings:
- Prayag zone: Prayagraj on October 25.
- Braj zone: Aligarh on October 26.
- Western zone: Moradabad on October 27.
Zonal in-charges have been tasked with mobilizing not just party cadres, but also local youth and civil society groups at the assembly, block, and district levels. On October 22, leadership from the Awadh zone met at the provincial headquarters to delegate specific responsibilities, while AICC secretaries Abdul Mannan and Abhishek Dutt reached out to social groups and student organizations to join the cause.
National Coordination and the INDIA Bloc
The mobilization isn't limited to Uttar Pradesh alone. AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal held a strategy meeting with senior Haryana Congress leaders at Indira Bhawan on October 23 to ensure a strong turnout from that state as well.
Furthermore, the broader INDIA bloc is coordinating a joint action plan to address the SIR controversy. This collaborative effort is expected to include various rallies and 'Save Democracy' marches to amplify the message across the country.
Logistics and Political Friction
The Delhi Police has officially granted a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for the event at Ramlila Maidan, which remains valid from October 25 to November 3. Authorities are currently coordinating security arrangements and traffic management to ensure the large-scale gathering proceeds peacefully.
However, the rally has already sparked political tension. The BJP has criticized the choice of date, attempting to link the November 1 rally to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, adding a layer of political controversy to the upcoming demonstration.