Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Monday, October 26, 2026, turned down an appeal by Delhi trader associations to postpone the Opposition INDIA bloc’s scheduled November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan, asserting that the demonstration can end in “30 seconds” if Prime Minister Narendra Modi sacks Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Traders Flag ₹10,000 Crore Business Impact Ahead of Festivals
The rejection follows a formal request by the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), which urged Opposition leaders to defer the mass political gathering until after November 10. CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal warned that a major political rally situated adjacent to Old Delhi’s dense wholesale and retail markets could disrupt commercial activity worth ₹10,000 crore during the peak festive shopping season—ahead of Dhanteras on November 6, Diwali on November 8, and Bhai Dooj on November 10.
Goyal emphasized that Delhi markets generate roughly ₹25,000 crore in turnover around Dhanteras across gold, silver, electronics, and automotive retail sectors.
Rahul Gandhi Demands Removal of Chief Election Commissioner
Responding to the traders’ concerns via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi shifted the responsibility onto the central government, criticizing recent metro suspensions and road blockades in the national capital.
”To every trader in Delhi: We love you and hear you. The government shut the metro, sealed our roads and locked down our capital. With a stolen vote nothing is safe – your shop, your savings, your children’s future,” Gandhi posted. “Tell Modi to sack accused no. 4, Gyanesh Kumar, and the protests will stop in 30 seconds.”
The Opposition alliance has been intensifying its campaign against the Election Commission over the special intensive revision (SIR) electoral roll exercise, alleging unilateral decision-making by the CEC despite formal objections raised on record by fellow election commissioners.
The November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan marks the latest escalation in the INDIA bloc’s joint campaign against the poll panel, following an October 12 protest march to the Supreme Court.
