Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh confirmed the decision on Saturday, October 17, saying the party had approached police after establishing that the ground would be available between October 25 and November 3.
The rally forms part of the opposition INDIA bloc’s campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and its demands for greater accountability from the Election Commission. Opposition leaders have questioned the exercise and raised concerns about the possible exclusion of eligible voters.
Singh said Congress representatives first contacted the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to establish whether Ramlila Maidan could be used. The civic authority confirmed the availability window, following which the party sought police clearance.
Police officials then discussed the arrangements required for the gathering with the organisers before issuing the certificate. The clearance covers the proposed event, while coordination over security, crowd management and traffic arrangements remains part of preparations.
The decision comes days after Jantar Mantar ceased to be a designated location for protests and demonstrations in the capital. Authorities have instead identified Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in east Delhi as permissible venues for such gatherings.
The change has altered where political parties and civil society groups can organise demonstrations. Ramlila Maidan, a large public ground in central Delhi, is among the locations now formally designated for protest activity.
The police decision follows the INDIA bloc’s September 30 announcement of a joint programme of rallies and marches addressing the electoral roll controversy. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said at the time that participating parties had also agreed to demand elections using ballot papers rather than electronic voting machines.
The bloc’s objections centre on the SIR process, under which electoral authorities scrutinise voter lists. Opposition parties contend that the revision risks removing legitimate voters and have called for safeguards and transparency. These concerns remain allegations contested in the wider political debate, rather than established findings of wrongdoing.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has become a principal target of opposition criticism. Protesters have demanded his resignation over the handling of electoral rolls, while the Election Commission has maintained that voter-list revision is intended to protect the accuracy and integrity of the electoral register.
The November 1 gathering will give Congress leaders an opportunity to press those demands at a formally authorised venue. The party’s broader opposition alliance has sought to coordinate protests rather than leave individual demonstrations to separate organisations.
Delhi has also witnessed demonstrations by student groups and other political activists over the electoral roll dispute. Police action at some gatherings has prompted criticism from opposition politicians, who have accused authorities of restricting peaceful protest. Police have cited public-order and security considerations when regulating assemblies.
The designation of alternative demonstration grounds is particularly relevant to the Congress event because it establishes the administrative framework under which the rally can take place. Organisers must still work with the authorities on arrangements appropriate to the venue and expected gathering.
Police said they were coordinating with traffic personnel and other agencies to maintain order and facilitate movement around the ground. The scale of any traffic restrictions and the arrangements for entry and exit were not specified in the announcement.
Ramlila Maidan’s availability for a longer period than the rally date allows organisers time for preparations, although the confirmed public gathering is scheduled for November 1. The October 25 to November 3 window should not be interpreted as a continuous ten-day protest programme.
The municipal confirmation and the police certificate are separate steps. The former concerns access to the ground, while the latter records the police position on the proposed assembly following discussions about security requirements.
The police announcement did not provide a confirmed estimate of attendance or a detailed programme of speakers. Those particulars will depend on the arrangements announced by Congress organisers ahead of the gathering.
The three designated demonstration locations identified by police are Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground, replacing Jantar Mantar in the capital’s notified protest arrangements. The revised arrangement follows a review of locations where public demonstrations can be accommodated while allowing authorities to address security and public-order requirements across Delhi.
