Ramlila Maidan ‘Haldighati of democracy’, U.P. people good at welcoming, better at send-offs: Akhilesh Yadav

Akhilesh Yadav during a "Save Democracy" march against alleged electoral irregularities and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on November 1, 2026 | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday (November 1, 2026) said the Ramlila Maidan has turned into the "Haldighati of democracy" with a massive turnout of people and asserted that this is indicative of change that is in the offing, as he asserted that those who came to power at the Centre through Uttar Pradesh will also exit from there.Taking a dig at the BJP, Mr. Yadav said those who speak of having a firm, immovable stance -- likening it to the unshakeable foot of Angad -- should consider where they would even place that foot, given that there is no ground left to stand on.Keep track: ‘Chalo Dilli’ protests: Rahul Gandhi assures ‘legal action against PM Modi’; Kharge says ‘we’re not afraid to fight’ | LIVEAddressing the ‘INDIA’ bloc rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan against "vote chori", Mr. Yadav referred to the recent MLC polls and said the people of Kashi (Varanasi) have reduced the "double-engine" government to a ‘double zero.’Raising the issue of names being removed from electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief stated, "As this public meeting was being organised at Ramlila Maidan, it was reported that the votes of 1.27 lakh Hindu brethren in Uttar Pradesh had been deleted—which translates to a reduction of 31,000 votes in every assembly constituency."He asserted that, in reality, attempts are being made to shift the blame for their defeat onto others.Referring to the West Bengal assembly elections, Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the election there was ‘looted’ and that votes were manipulated through a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls conducted before the polls."We, in the ‘INDIA’ alliance, will not stop," he said. “If we were unable to form the government in 2022, it is because of this very theft," Mr. Yadav added.Taking another jab at the BJP, the SP chief said those who once boasted about making India a ‘Vishwaguru’ are now busy manipulating the electoral rolls. Mr. Yadav added that the people are set to save democracy, and this movement will begin in Uttar Pradesh.Mr. Yadav also said that seeing the massive turnout of people, the Ramlila Maidan has become the "Haldighati of democracy".The Battle of Haldighati was a famous engagement fought in 1576, in the narrow mountain pass of Haldighati in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan, between the Mewar Kingdom and the Mughal Empire.He said the change was in the offing, and added that ‘parivartan’ can come anytime."Those who came to power through UP will be ousted from there. And ‘UP wallahs (people)’, who are good at welcoming, are better at giving send-offs," Akhilesh Yadav added. Published - November 01, 2026 06:45 pm IST