New Delhi: The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) has suspended more than 80 office-bearers across several states for failing to attend the INDIA bloc rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1. The organisation has also issued notices seeking explanations from those who remained absent despite receiving clear instructions to participate.
The number of suspended office-bearers could rise to 500 as the disciplinary process continues across states.
Around 60 office-bearers from Madhya Pradesh, at least 13 from Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh and approximately 10 from Haryana have faced suspension. Similar action is being considered in other states.
The Youth Congress had directed all its national, state and district-level office-bearers to attend the rally and the march leading up to it.
To monitor participation, the IYC installed barcode scanners at its assembly point on Minto Road. Office-bearers and accompanying workers were instructed to register through the organisation’s official mobile application, With IYC.
Although the organisation claimed that around 15,000 workers gathered at Minto Road to join Rahul Gandhi’s march towards Ramlila Maidan, only 2,831 people registered through the application.
A subsequent review found that several workers had failed to complete the registration process because of limited technical awareness and lack of interest. Slow internet connectivity along the route also affected digital attendance records.
However, the leadership found that several office-bearers had remained absent without providing any explanation, prompting disciplinary action.
IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib defended the rally’s turnout and said the organisation had taken action to maintain discipline and accountability. He added that inactive office-bearers would be replaced by dedicated workers and expressed confidence that the Youth Congress could mobilise 50,000 people for future rallies in Delhi.
The Congress leadership has also started reviewing the participation of its main organisation, particularly district presidents appointed under the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan. Action against those who skipped the rally without valid reasons is also being considered.
Ahead of the event, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal had claimed that 10 lakh people would attend the gathering. However, the actual turnout fell significantly short of that target, triggering an internal review.
The rally was organised to protest alleged electoral irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, while demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Several INDIA bloc leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav and Farooq Abdullah, addressed the gathering.
Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP-led government of manipulating electoral processes through electronic voting machines and changes to voter lists. He also predicted that Gyanesh Kumar would be removed from office and face imprisonment.
While Congress leaders described the gathering as a success, the BJP challenged the party’s turnout claims, pointing to vacant seating areas at Ramlila Maidan.
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