BJP slams Congress over ECI allegations, cites Supreme Court nod for SIR
Synopsis
The BJP fired back hard at the Congress on Saturday, citing the ECI's own press release and a Supreme Court nod for the SIR process to argue that the opposition is attacking constitutional institutions purely to grab power — a charge that lands ahead of crucial state elections and keeps the poll body at the centre of a bitter partisan battle.
Key Takeaways
The BJP on 26 September 2026 called Congress's allegations against the ECI 'shameful' and 'baseless.' BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad cited the Supreme Court's validation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as proof the opposition's challenge had no merit.
The ECI issued a press release after its afternoon meeting asserting the SIR was conducted with consensus among all three commissioners.
BJP MP Sambit Patra alleged Congress was running a 'conspiracy' to 'weaken constitutional institutions' by attacking the poll body.
The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of targeting the ECI, the Supreme Court, and other institutions solely because he 'cannot attain power.'
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, 26 September 2026 launched a sharp counter-offensive against the Indian National Congress over its allegations targeting the Election Commission of India (ECI), calling the opposition's conduct 'shameful' and accusing it of attempting to seize power by undermining constitutional institutions. The BJP's rebuttal followed the ECI issuing a press release after an afternoon meeting of its three commissioners to quell reports of internal differences and to clarify the circumstances in which ECI functionaries had written to the Cabinet Secretary.
BJP's Core Charge: Attacking Institutions to Grab Power
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Congress and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of making 'baseless and shameful' allegations against the poll body. 'This is very unfortunate, and we condemn it. Today, the Election Commission issued a press note stating that the process was conducted with the consent of the Chief Election Commissioner and both Election Commissioners,' Prasad said.
He further cited the Supreme Court's validation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as evidence that the opposition's challenge lacked merit. 'Congress, CPI-M and Trinamool Congress (undivided) had challenged the process before the Supreme Court, which approved the SIR after hearing everyone,' Prasad noted, adding that the apex court also allowed Form 6 of the SIR process.
Prasad Questions Congress's Electoral Record
Prasad accused the opposition of raising a ruckus 'whenever they lose polls,' challenging Congress leaders to reflect on their own electoral failures. 'Does Rahul Gandhi ever think about why he was wiped out from Tamil Nadu? Does Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi ever think about why they've been wiped out from Bengal for the last 40 years?' he asked.
The BJP leader also alleged that Congress was struggling to secure an alliance with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh, claiming the latter was 'not even giving them time.' He called Rahul Gandhi a 'non-serious politician' whom 'the people of the country do not take seriously.'
Sambit Patra: Congress Undermining Constitutional Bodies
BJP MP Sambit Patra echoed the attack, asserting that the ECI press release 'has clarified the allegations levelled by the Congress.' He alleged that the Congress was 'attacking constitutional institutions for its own interests and seeking to undermine their credibility.'
Patra also rejected the Congress's claim that the BJP was using the ECI as a 'pawn,' describing it instead as a 'conspiracy' by the Congress to 'weaken the country's constitutional institutions.' 'Rahul Gandhi's sole objective is to come to power at any cost. Since Rahul Gandhi has been unable to attain power, he is attacking the Election Commission, the Supreme Court, and India's constitutional institutions,' Patra alleged.
Context: What Triggered the Row
The dispute centres on reports of alleged differences within the Election Commission over the SIR exercise, which prompted ECI functionaries to write to the Cabinet Secretary — a move that drew sharp criticism from the opposition. The ECI, however, used its press release to assert that the SIR was conducted with the full consensus of all three commissioners, pushing back against the narrative of internal discord. This is not the first time the election body has become a political flashpoint; similar controversies over the ECI's independence and processes have surfaced ahead of key state assembly elections in the past.
What Comes Next
The BJP-Congress confrontation over the ECI is likely to intensify as several state assembly elections approach. Both sides are expected to continue trading charges in Parliament and at press conferences, with the opposition likely to press the matter in upcoming legislative sessions. How the ECI manages public perception of its institutional independence in the coming weeks could shape voter confidence in the electoral process.
Point of View
Already under scrutiny, survives repeated partisan weaponisation from both sides.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the BJP attack Congress over the Election Commission on 26 September?
The BJP attacked Congress after the opposition raised allegations about alleged internal differences within the ECI and questioned its impartiality over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. BJP MPs Ravi Shankar Prasad and Sambit Patra called the allegations 'shameful' and 'baseless,' citing the ECI's own clarifying press release and the Supreme Court's validation of the SIR process.
What did the Election Commission's press release say?
The ECI issued a press release after its afternoon meeting on 26 September to clarify that the SIR of electoral rolls was conducted with the full consent of the Chief Election Commissioner and both Election Commissioners, pushing back against reports of internal discord.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is a process used to revise and update voter rolls. The Supreme Court found it legally valid and permissible after Congress, CPI-M, and Trinamool Congress challenged it before the apex court; the court approved the process, including Form 6 of the SIR.
What did Sambit Patra allege against the Congress?
BJP MP Sambit Patra alleged that the Congress was attacking constitutional institutions — including the ECI and the Supreme Court — to serve its own political interests. He called it a 'conspiracy' to 'weaken the country's constitutional institutions' and said Rahul Gandhi's 'sole objective is to come to power at any cost.'
What is the broader political context of this dispute?
The row over the ECI's independence comes ahead of several key state assembly elections, making the poll body's credibility a high-stakes political issue. Similar controversies have erupted in the past whenever electoral processes have been contested by the losing side, and both parties are expected to continue pressing the issue in Parliament and at public events.
