Amit Shah, Nitin Nabin likely to attend BJP strategy meet as INDIA bloc plans November 1 Ramlila Maidan march

Union Home Minister Amit Shah may attend a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strategy meeting at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Sunday, October 25, as the opposition INDIA bloc prepares for its November 1 rally and march against alleged irregularities in the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, News18 reported. The meeting, scheduled for 4 pm, is expected to focus on coordinating the party's response to the opposition's campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. BJP national president Nitin Nabin is also likely to participate, according to News18, which cited sources. The developments come a day after Shah reviewed Delhi Police's preparedness for handling large gatherings and maintaining law and order at a meeting with senior officers and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, according to PTI. BJP to coordinate response to opposition campaign According to News18, BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santhosh and General Secretary Sunil Bansal will chair the party's strategy meeting, which is expected to be attended by senior leaders. A key objective will be to coordinate the BJP's messaging across television news debates and digital media platforms to counter the opposition's campaign against the Chief Election Commissioner. The meeting is also expected to review the work of a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) committee constituted by the BJP to respond to the opposition's allegations concerning the revision of electoral rolls. The opposition has alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise, including the deletion of lakhs of voters, and has demanded Kumar's resignation. INDIA bloc plans November 1 rally in Delhi The Congress-led INDIA bloc has announced a 'Save the Vote, Save the Country' rally and a 'Delhi Chalo March' at Ramlila Maidan on November 1, 2026. According to News18, the demonstration will focus on alleged discrepancies in the Election Commission's SIR exercise, with the opposition using the slogan "Vote Chori" to describe the alleged irregularities. The planned programme is expected to culminate in a march towards the Election Commission's office. Congress general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K.C. Venugopal have been holding meetings with regional leaders in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi to mobilise support. The alliance is targeting a turnout of 10 lakh participants, News18 reported. Delhi Police has issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the event, covering logistical arrangements, security and traffic coordination between October 25 and November 3. However, the proposed rally has drawn objections from traders concerned about the potential disruption to commercial activity during the festive shopping season. The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has written to Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, requesting that the rally be postponed until after November 10. The traders' body warned that barricading, security arrangements and traffic diversions could affect business worth more than ₹10,000 crore across 20 major central Delhi markets during the Diwali and Dhanteras period. Congress leaders have indicated that the programme will proceed as planned. The BJP has also criticised the November 1 date, citing its coincidence with the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Amit Shah reviews Delhi Police preparedness PTI reported that Shah visited Delhi Police headquarters on Jai Singh Road at around 3 pm on Saturday, October 24, for a security review that lasted more than three hours. Gupta, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, special and joint commissioners, deputy commissioners of police, and senior officers from the Special Cell and Crime Branch attended the meeting. The Union Home Minister's office said in a post on X: "Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri @AmitShah today chaired a security review meeting at the Delhi Police Headquarters. Delhi CM Smt. @gupta_rekha and senior officials were present at the meeting." The review followed a series of demonstrations in the capital, including protests against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET controversy and demonstrations demanding Kumar's resignation over the SIR exercise. According to police sources cited by PTI, officials examined protests over the past five months, the police response and measures to prevent violence, damage to public property and attempts to breach security barricades. The discussions also covered allegations of excessive force during the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) 'Sansad Chalo' march in July and its October 10 demonstration at Jantar Mantar. The police response to alleged assaults on personnel and attempts to cross barricades was reviewed. Crowd management, crime and women's safety on agenda Officers discussed improving intelligence gathering, coordination between police units and engagement with the public to prevent demonstrations from escalating into law-and-order problems. The review also considered the effect of protests and traffic restrictions on businesses, with traders having raised concerns over disruptions caused by repeated demonstrations. PTI reported that the discussions took place against the backdrop of violent protests in several European capitals, including Paris. Officials also examined ways to align police operations with the government's "zero tolerance" approach towards organised crime and its focus on public safety. Women's safety, preventive policing in vulnerable areas and faster investigations into crimes against women were among the other issues discussed. The meeting also covered drug trafficking networks operating in Delhi, criminal syndicates allegedly run from abroad through handlers in Delhi and the National Capital Region, and the involvement of shooters and arms suppliers in extortion cases and targeted shootings. Shah reviewed the use of artificial intelligence to ease traffic congestion and measures to remove encroachments at important locations. Delhi Police also presented an account of its work over the past five years, including cases registered, arrests, investigations and enforcement measures. According to sources cited by PTI, the interaction was also intended to boost the morale of officers facing scrutiny over their handling of protests. Shah had last visited Delhi Police headquarters on August 30, 2022.