Congress Mega Rally Postponed Amid Diwali Season?

The Congress has called for a mega rally in Delhi on November 1, demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner over allegations of vote theft. However, traders’ associations have urged the party to postpone the event, citing the potential impact on business during the Diwali festive season. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the party leadership would discuss the request and take a decision within a day or two. He maintained that the rally was intended to defend people’s voting rights, describing alleged vote theft as a serious issue for democracy.

The Congress-led INDIA bloc plans to hold the rally at Ramlila Maidan, with party leaders estimating that around one million people could attend. The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has warned that traffic diversions and disruptions during the festive period could affect businesses and potentially cause losses of up to ₹3,000 crore in a single day. CTI has requested that the rally be postponed until November 10, and its chairman, Brijesh Goyal, has written to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the matter. Several major wholesale and retail markets, including Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Chawri Bazaar and Karol Bagh, lie within five kilometres of Ramlila Maidan and typically experience heavy festive-season footfall.