Delhi Police denied the Congress' request to stage a mock parliament at the Ashok Hotel on Oct. 28 and later at Ramlila Maidan, citing proximity to the Prime Minister’s residence. The party had planned the session to rally support ahead of the November 1 rally.
Traders surrounding the Maidan have taken to the streets, demanding postponement until after Diwali. They warn that 20,000 vehicles and a gridlock could halt commerce, with one shopkeeper noting, "We lose a day's sales every time a traffic jam hits our lane."
Rahul Gandhi has countered, blaming the centre for the disruptions and insisting the rally will boost local markets. He vowed to pressure the government to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and framed the protest as a fight against vote‑stealing.
Congress views the rally as a test of its organisational muscle; KC Venugopal has toured Delhi‑area states, assigning Haryana the task of mobilising the largest contingent under MP Deepender Hooda. The outcome will decide whether the party can claim national reach and set the agenda for four additional rallies slated for later in the year.