{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Controversy Escalates Over Congress's Nov 1 Delhi Rally as Supreme Court Hears EC Affidavit Dispute",
  "summary": "Delhi trade associations have strongly opposed the Congress party's planned mass rally on November 1 citing business losses during Diwali, while an EC affidavit in the Supreme Court has intensified legal and political friction.",
  "content": "Political friction has reached a peak in the national capital ahead of the planned November 1 rally by the Congress party. While Congress leadership and Rahul Gandhi are moving forward with mass mobilization efforts, local traders and business groups in Delhi have voiced grave concerns over the impact of such a massive gathering during the peak Diwali and Dhanteras shopping season. Simultaneously, an affidavit submitted by the Election Commission in the Supreme Court has challenged key narratives put forward by opposition leaders, adding a complex legal dimension to the ongoing political clash.\n\nTraders Raise Severe Concerns Over Market Closures and Traffic Jam\nThe Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), a prominent business network in Delhi, has formally written to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Rahul Gandhi requesting a postponement of the November 1 rally. Business owners argue that the period surrounding Dhanteras and Diwali accounts for the highest annual sales volume for wholesale and retail markets. Bringing an estimated 10 lakh people and around 20,000 vehicles into Central Delhi could completely paralyze the commercial ecosystem.\n\nAccording to figures presented by CTI, the immediate vicinity of Ramlila Maidan lacks authorized parking for even 200 vehicles. Introducing 20,000 incoming transport vehicles risks causing severe traffic blockades spanning a 10-kilometer radius. Traders fear that if police barricades are put up starting October 31, access routes to major commercial centers will close, causing panic among shoppers. Approximately 20 major wholesale and retail markets surrounding Ramlila Maidan are projected to face direct disruption.\n\nTrade representatives highlighted a previous incident on October 10 when a demonstration of merely 3,000 to 4,000 individuals at Jantar Mantar led to the sealing of Central Delhi routes. They argue that handling a gathering of 10 lakh people during the busiest shopping days of the year will cripple transport and commerce. Sanjeev Mehra, president of the Khan Market Traders Association, stated that staging mass protests during peak festive windows causes immense financial damage that ripples across retail, logistics, and manufacturing sectors.\n\nSupreme Court Proceedings on Election Commission Affidavit\nParallel to the street-level pushback, significant developments unfolded in the Supreme Court regarding electoral procedure disputes. The Election Commission of India filed an affidavit confirming on record that all procedural determinations, including those related to Form 6 and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), were finalized through mutual consultation and consensus. The filing aims to refute allegations that decisions were executed unilaterally.\n\nDuring court proceedings, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Rahul Gandhi and associated opposition alliance leaders, requested the bench to pass orders preserving internal file notings and communications of the Election Commission. Singhvi argued that inspecting these records would clarify whether the decisions were genuinely consultative or imposed independently. Responding to the request, the Chief Justice of India noted that the court remains fully aware of all aspects and will examine every relevant material.\n\nAdditionally, legal counsel representing Trinamool Congress MP Dola Sen alleged that the affidavit pointed toward procedural tampering regarding Form 6. Counsel for the Election Commission refuted this argument, describing it as baseless rhetoric similar to statements made outside the courtroom. The Supreme Court granted all participating parties a 10-day window to examine the EC affidavit and submit formal responses. The next hearing is slated to take place after Diwali on November 17.\n\nAllies Distance Themselves from Controversial Political Rhetoric\nThe political narrative has been further complicated by sharp debates over public discourse. Following controversial remarks made by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's father, the Bharatiya Janata Party launched a counter-campaign, framing its political strategy ahead of future elections.\n\nCrucially, several key opposition allies have publicly distanced themselves from the remarks. Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav openly expressed disagreement with the statement, emphasizing that senior leaders must maintain restraint in their vocabulary to prevent political discourse from deteriorating further. He warned that if top leadership uses harsh language, it becomes impossible to regulate lower-level party workers.\n\nBahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati also shared her concerns on social media, expressing regret over what she described as the declining standards of Indian political debate. She observed that bitter language from top-tier leaders contributes to an increasingly toxic political environment and urged all parties to show greater restraint.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThis development primarily impacts shoppers and merchants in Delhi during the festive peak, as well as observers tracking electoral transparency and national political dynamics.\n\n• Across India: The Supreme Court's upcoming November 17 hearing on the Election Commission's procedural affidavit regarding Form 6 and electoral revisions will set key legal benchmarks for electoral transparency nationwide.\n• In Delhi: Commuters and shoppers traveling through Central and Old Delhi between October 31 and November 1 face severe traffic blockades, parking shortages, and potential market closures across 20 major wholesale hubs around Ramlila Maidan.\n\nWhy this happened\nThe rising friction around the November 1 event stems from overlapping commercial risks during the festive peak, a major legal test regarding Election Commission decisions, and pushback against political rhetoric.\n\n• Festive Season Timing: Holding a mass rally expected to draw 10 lakh people and 20,000 vehicles right during Dhanteras and Diwali threatens massive traffic gridlocks across 20 wholesale markets in Central Delhi.\n• Legal Submissions by EC: The Election Commission's affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that decisions on Form 6 and SIR were made by mutual consent challenged the opposition's legal claims, leading the court to give a 10-day response period.\n• Controversy Over Rhetoric: Severe remarks targeting political opponents prompted swift counter-campaigns by the BJP and public disavowal from key allies including the Samajwadi Party and BSP.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. What event is planned by Congress in Delhi on November 1?\nCongress has planned a massive rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, aiming to gather approximately 10 lakh attendees.\n\n2. Why are Delhi trade associations opposing the November 1 rally?\nTraders fear that bringing 20,000 vehicles and 10 lakh people into Central Delhi during the peak Dhanteras and Diwali shopping period will cause massive gridlock and severe business losses across 20 key markets.\n\n3. What did the Election Commission state in its Supreme Court affidavit?\nThe Election Commission stated on record that all decisions regarding Form 6 and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) were made through mutual consent and consultation.\n\n4. What order did senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi seek from the Supreme Court?\nAbhishek Manu Singhvi requested the court to issue orders preserving the Election Commission's internal file notings and communications.\n\n5. When is the next Supreme Court hearing scheduled in this case?\nThe Supreme Court granted parties 10 days to respond to the affidavit, with the next hearing likely on November 17 after Diwali.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/politics/congress-ki-1-november-ki-delhi-raili-para-barha-vivada-supreme-court-men-bhi-ec-ke-halaphaname-se-garamai-rajaniti-52303",
  "category": "Politics",
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-27",
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}