The historic Ramlila Maidan, which has been the site for key political rallies and agitations in the past decades, saw only 27 bookings in the last three years, out of which only four were for protests and demonstrations , data from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) showed.
The ground was booked 27 times between January 2024 and September 2026, according to the MCD. The four bookings for which the purpose was mentioned as peaceful protest were made by LIC agents in March 2025 and the Shikshak Shikshika Adhikar Manch in July 2025 among others.
Political parties have maintained a distance from the historic assembly ground. The MCD report showed nine bookings for political rallies were made by the People’s Party of India, Communist Party of India, Akhil Bharatiya Bishnoi Mahasabha, National Conference in the last three years . Over the decades, Ramlila Maidan has been an important venue for the country’s political history. Applicants must also obtain a no-objection certificate from the Delhi Traffic Police. “Half the maidan is used for parking by heavy vehicles and the remaining half is open for booking. We do not offer a small section or parts of Ramlila Ground to be booked.
The ground was also booked once each by the Aam Aadmi Party in March 2024 and All India Congress Committee in December 2025. From multiple gatherings headed by former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956 and 1957 to a permanent stage being built for a public event in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, who was visiting India, anti corruption movement headed by Anna Hazare – the space has served as venue for iconic rallies and public gathering But access to the ground comes at a cost, and its availability will be severely limited during the festive season. A senior MCD official said booking the 12-acre venue costs ₹ 50,000 a day, along with a refundable security deposit of ₹ 55,000.
People can only book the entire section,” the official said, seeking anonymity.
