SRINAGAR, November 1: Senior BJP leader Altaf Thakur on Sunday criticised the INDIA bloc over its rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, claiming that despite the participation of nearly 19 opposition parties, the alliance failed to mobilise a crowd large enough to fill the venue.
Thakur said the opposition parties had made a collective effort to organise the rally but could not generate the expected public response. He questioned the alliance's ability to mobilise people and create a significant political impact through its demonstrations.
Highlighting what he described as the most striking moment of the gathering, Thakur claimed that people started leaving the venue while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, one of the prominent faces of the INDIA bloc, was addressing the gathering.
According to Thakur, the reported departure of attendees during Gandhi's address reflected the lack of public enthusiasm for the opposition alliance's campaign.
He said the rally's turnout raised serious questions about the INDIA bloc's public outreach strategy and its ability to connect with ordinary citizens despite having several major political parties under its banner.
The BJP leader further suggested that the opposition alliance needed to reassess its approach to political mobilisation and understand why its collective efforts were not translating into the expected public participation.
The INDIA bloc had organised the rally at Ramlila Maidan to protest against alleged electoral irregularities and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Several opposition leaders and representatives of alliance partners participated in the demonstration, raising concerns over electoral processes and the functioning of the Election Commission.
Thakur maintained that the rally had failed to achieve the impact anticipated by its organisers.
He said the coming days would reveal how the INDIA bloc responds to the questions surrounding its public mobilisation efforts and whether the alliance can strengthen its outreach among voters.
Altaf Thakur said, "Ramleela Maidan is spread over approximately 12 acres. Around 15% of the area was occupied by the Dais and stage arrangements. Even after accounting for that space, a substantial area remained available for the gathering."
Thakur further said, "Despite claims of massive mobilisation and the coming together of 19 opposition parties, the INDIA bloc struggled to fill the venue. Reports of approximately 28,000 chairs being arranged further raise questions about the actual turnout."
He added that the much-publicised gathering, projected as a major show of opposition strength, has instead become a subject of debate over crowd mobilisation and public response. He said that the INDIA bloc's claims of a massive show of strength deserve to be examined against the actual attendance figures.
