Giriraj Singh asks Rahul Gandhi: If votes were stolen, how did you become LoP?
Synopsis
Union Minister Giriraj Singh turned the Opposition's vote-stealing allegation on its head, asking Rahul Gandhi how he became Leader of the Opposition if elections were rigged. The sharp exchange came as the INDIA bloc escalated its campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar — a confrontation that could set the tone for upcoming state polls.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on 12 October challenged Rahul Gandhi to explain how he became Leader of the Opposition if votes were stolen.
Singh alleged Gandhi falsely claimed 300 MPs backed a march but did not move a no-confidence motion, and that Shashi Tharoor did not participate.
Singh also criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge , saying his conduct had 'crossed all limits.' Singh alleged the Opposition wants to replicate unrest seen in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal .
Congress workers gathered at AICC headquarters demanding resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR electoral roll revision.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Monday, 12 October launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, questioning how Gandhi became the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha if votes were indeed stolen — as the Opposition has alleged. Singh's remarks came as Congress workers staged protests outside the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi ahead of a march demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Singh's Direct Challenge to Rahul Gandhi
Speaking to reporters, Singh said: 'They are holding the Constitution in one hand while talking about destroying it. If votes were stolen, how did he become the Leader of the Opposition? In Bihar, the Election Commission asked for evidence. Why did he not provide it? Will merely displaying the Constitution be enough? A thief is speaking out against theft.'
Singh also questioned the Congress's claims about political support, saying Gandhi had asserted that 300 MPs were with the march but stopped short of moving a no-confidence motion. 'Now he is claiming that 200 officers are backing them. I am saying that even their own Shashi Tharoor did not join them,' Singh added.
Attack on Congress President Kharge
Singh extended his criticism to Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, saying the senior leader's conduct had 'crossed all limits.' 'I feel sorry for Kharge Sahib. At his age, the way he is behaving and going to such lengths to flatter people like Rahul Gandhi has crossed all limits. Rahul Gandhi only spreads lies. They want to create anarchy in the country,' Singh said.
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka Comparison
Singh alleged that the Opposition's intent was to destabilise India in the manner of recent upheavals in neighbouring countries. 'They want to turn this country into Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or Nepal. That is their intention,' he said, referencing mass protests that shook those nations in recent years. He cited the Delhi University Students' Union elections and four recent by-election results as evidence that India's youth were not aligned with the Opposition's campaign.
The Congress Protest and SIR Campaign
The Congress march is part of the broader INDIA bloc campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with the Opposition demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Congress workers raised slogans against the Chief Election Commissioner outside the AICC headquarters ahead of the proposed march. The confrontation marks yet another flashpoint in the ongoing dispute between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition over the integrity of India's electoral process.
With assembly elections on the horizon in several states, the battle over electoral roll revision and institutional credibility is likely to intensify in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
How did the Opposition win enough seats to form a recognised bloc — is a rhetorically effective counter, but it sidesteps the substance of the SIR controversy, which centres on alleged deletions of voter names rather than overall result outcomes. The BJP's pivot to personal attacks on Gandhi and Kharge suggests the party sees political advantage in keeping the debate on credibility rather than process. What mainstream coverage risks missing: the INDIA bloc's demand for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation is a structurally significant challenge to the Election Commission's independence — its merits deserve scrutiny independent of the political theatre surrounding it.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Giriraj Singh say to Rahul Gandhi about vote-stealing?
Singh asked how Gandhi became Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha if votes were stolen, as the Opposition alleges. He also said the Election Commission had sought evidence of rigging in Bihar but Gandhi did not provide it.
What is the INDIA bloc's SIR campaign about?
The INDIA bloc is campaigning against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the process is being used to delete legitimate voter names. The bloc is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the matter.
Why did Singh criticise Shashi Tharoor in his remarks?
Singh used Tharoor's reported absence from the Congress march to undermine Gandhi's claim that 300 MPs supported the protest, arguing that the Opposition's stated support base was exaggerated.
What comparison did Singh draw with neighbouring countries?
Singh alleged that the Opposition intends to trigger unrest in India similar to the mass protests seen in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal in recent years, claiming India's youth do not support the Opposition's campaign.
What happens next in the Congress versus Election Commission standoff?
With several state assembly elections approaching, the dispute over electoral roll revision and the Election Commission's credibility is expected to intensify. The INDIA bloc has signalled it will continue protests until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns.
