Political tensions between Congress and the BJP are rising as both parties prepare for major public events over the ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Congress has announced a 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on November 1, 2026, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to attend a BJP-organised padayatra in Telangana on November 2.
The announcements come amid growing disagreements over the electoral roll revision process. Congress has accused the Election Commission of irregularities and alleged voter deletions, while the BJP has rejected these allegations and defended the exercise as necessary for maintaining accurate voter records.
Vote Bachao Delhi rally: Kharge demands action over SIR voter roll row
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced the November 1 rally through a video message shared on social media. He alleged that the constitutional voting rights of millions of Indians were under threat because of the ongoing electoral roll revision exercise.
Kharge accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of acting under political influence and demanded his resignation. He also called for an immediate halt to the SIR process, raising concerns about alleged irregularities and the removal of eligible voters from electoral rolls.
The Congress president urged party workers and citizens to participate in the rally to protect democratic rights and the Constitution. He also criticised the central government over rising inflation and the financial pressures faced by ordinary households.
However, the allegations of widespread vote manipulation remain disputed, with the BJP strongly rejecting Congress's accusations.
The November 1 gathering at Ramlila Maidan is expected to become a major platform for Congress to highlight its concerns about electoral transparency and voter rights.
Amit Shah Telangana march: BJP challenges Congress over voter deletions
A day after the Congress rally, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to attend a BJP padayatra in Telangana on November 2. The march, organised under the slogan 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao', aims to counter what the BJP describes as misleading claims surrounding the SIR exercise.
Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao announced Shah's participation on October 26 and accused Congress of spreading misinformation about the electoral roll revision.
Rao challenged Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to provide specific examples of eligible voters whose names had been wrongly removed. He also asked Congress leaders to identify affected voters and explain the circumstances behind their deletions.
Responding to opposition claims involving 13 crore voter names, Rao argued that the entries concerned categories such as deceased individuals, voters who had permanently shifted, absent or untraceable voters and duplicate registrations. These figures and explanations were presented as the BJP leader's claims and have not been independently verified.
Rao also criticised Telangana Congress leaders for focusing on political protests while several parts of the state were facing water shortages. He urged the state government to prioritise drinking water availability and other pressing public concerns.
With Congress preparing for its Delhi rally and the BJP planning its Telangana march, the dispute over electoral roll revisions is likely to remain a major political issue in the coming days.
The two events highlight the sharply contrasting positions of India's leading political parties. While Congress is demanding greater accountability and transparency in the voter revision process, the BJP maintains that the exercise is necessary to ensure accurate electoral records.
