‘You can break a stick, not a bundle’: From an IT couple to a hospital patient, citizens turn up for INDIA bloc rally

A scene during the Opposition march from Minto Bridge to Ramlila Maidan, in New Delhi, on November 1, 2026.

Thousands of protesters from across the country, representing political parties, youth organisations, women’s groups and farmers’ bodies, gathered at Minto Road in Delhi on Sunday (November 1, 2026) ahead of the INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan, seeking to strengthen the campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

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Ahead of the arrival of Opposition leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, protesters raised slogans of “vote chori” and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the rollback of the SIR exercise.

Among those assembling at Minto Road were members of the Indian Youth Congress, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, National Students’ Union of India, Krantikari Yuva Sangathan and the All India Students’ Federation, among other groups.

The gathering also drew citizens (independent of parties) who said the coming together of various parties and the public had given the protests greater strength after several demonstrations against the SIR in recent weeks.

“You can break one stick easily, but if you bundle 10 sticks together, they cannot be broken. Today’s protest symbolises that bundle of sticks,” said Tejender, an IT employee who had arrived with his wife from Gurugram.

When asked why he had joined the demonstration on a Sunday afternoon, he said, “We are doing this for a better future for our children. The education system is in a bad state, healthcare facilities are lacking, and there are concerns over the misappropriation of votes. Our country has so many problems that need to be addressed. It is high time we all came together,” he said.

Mr. Tejender said the SIR exercise has disproportionately affected people who lacked the resources or awareness to navigate the documentation process.

“I am educated and was able to produce all the required documents, but a large section of the population is either uneducated or unaware of the process and is being targeted by the SIR of electoral rolls. Who will fight for them?” he asked.

Participants also said that the past protests ensured that fear of demonstrations was gradually receding.

“The earlier protests were a struggle by the youth and they have helped remove the fear of the police from people’s minds. I was scared earlier, many political parties were scared too. But after a series of consistent protests, that fear is no longer there,” said Anil S. Raj, an advocate who had attended previous demonstrations against the SIR.

Participants said earlier demonstrations had largely taken place in silos, with different groups raising concerns over the SIR separately. The INDIA bloc rally, they said, offered an opportunity to bring these voices together and build a broader movement.

“Now, so many people are joining the protests, including leaders from different political parties. This will send a strong message,” J.C. Yadav, another advocate who joined the protests said.

With an intravenous cannula on her left arm, Azka, a Delhi-based cafe owner who had spent the past week admitted to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital with typhoid, also arrived for the protest. Unable to attend earlier protests because of her illness, she said she did not want to miss Sunday’s (November 1, 2026) gathering.

“I could not attend the earlier protests because I was unwell. Today, I did not want to miss this one. I am here simply to support the people of our country who are fighting against the government’s wrongdoings,” she said.

Ms. Azka said her mother had strictly advised her against attending the rally because of her health. However, she decided to make the journey to Minto Road, joking that she would return to hospital the next day if her condition worsened.

“I have never shut my cafe on a Sunday because the footfall is higher on weekends. But today, I wanted to be at the protest. Everyone needs to stand together to show the government that it cannot simply do whatever it wants,” she said.

Delhi / Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls / election / voting / politics (general) / Election Commission of India