📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Pinakpani
Business
Delhi traders ask Congress to delay Nov 1 rally, cite Rs 10,000 crore loss
✍️ India Today
🗓 27 Oct 2026, 02:03 PM
👁 16
Delhi market dealers have urged the Congress party to postpone its planned rally on November 1, warning that the event could cost the city’s economy up to Rs 10,000 crore.
Delhi’s wholesale and retail traders met with senior Congress leaders on Tuesday, requesting that the party’s mass rally scheduled for November 1 be shifted to a later date. The merchants argued that the gathering, expected to draw large crowds to central Delhi, would disrupt traffic, impede the flow of goods and force many shops to shut temporarily.
According to the traders’ association, the economic fallout from the rally could reach as high as Rs 10,000 crore, factoring in lost sales, supply‑chain delays and additional security expenses. They warned that small and medium enterprises, which form the backbone of the city’s market sector, would bear the brunt of the disruption.
Congress officials acknowledged the concerns but said the rally is part of a broader political programme aimed at mobilising voters ahead of upcoming elections. The party has not yet confirmed whether it will adjust the schedule, but officials said they will review the traders’ request in the coming days.
If the rally proceeds as planned, authorities are expected to deploy extensive police and municipal resources to manage crowds and traffic, further adding to the projected cost. Traders have urged the government to facilitate an alternative venue or date to mitigate the anticipated losses.
According to the traders’ association, the economic fallout from the rally could reach as high as Rs 10,000 crore, factoring in lost sales, supply‑chain delays and additional security expenses. They warned that small and medium enterprises, which form the backbone of the city’s market sector, would bear the brunt of the disruption.
Congress officials acknowledged the concerns but said the rally is part of a broader political programme aimed at mobilising voters ahead of upcoming elections. The party has not yet confirmed whether it will adjust the schedule, but officials said they will review the traders’ request in the coming days.
If the rally proceeds as planned, authorities are expected to deploy extensive police and municipal resources to manage crowds and traffic, further adding to the projected cost. Traders have urged the government to facilitate an alternative venue or date to mitigate the anticipated losses.