Rijiju says Rahul Gandhi's EC remarks 'send wrong message'; BJP piles on
Synopsis
Kiren Rijiju and a string of BJP leaders have taken aim at Rahul Gandhi after his 24 September press conference alleging systematic poll rigging and targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. With the BJP calling Gandhi's simultaneous EVM and vote-theft claims self-contradictory, and Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai labelling his conduct 'anti-national', the row over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision drive has escalated into a full-blown political confrontation.
Key Takeaways
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju warned on 27 September 2026 that spreading Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the Election Commission would 'send a wrong message'.
Gandhi alleged large-scale rigging in the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections at a press conference on 24 September , naming CEC Gyanesh Kumar .
BJP leader Narottam Mishra called Gandhi's simultaneous EVM and vote-theft allegations self-contradictory, saying Gandhi should apologise over past EVM remarks.
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai described Gandhi's conduct as 'anti-national' and said Congress had lost elections 'more than 100 times'.
The row centres on the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which opposition parties allege could enable selective voter deletions.
All three Election Commissioners — Gyanesh Kumar , Sukhbir Singh Sandhu , and Vivek Joshi — held a joint press briefing asserting unanimous agreement within the Commission.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on 27 September 2026 hit back at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his recent attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), warning that spreading Gandhi's remarks would 'send a wrong message' in society. The counter-offensive came after Gandhi held a high-profile press conference on 24 September, in which he levelled serious allegations against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the Commission as a whole.
What Rahul Gandhi Said
At his 24 September press conference, Gandhi alleged large-scale rigging in both the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and several subsequent Assembly elections. He claimed that while anti-incumbency reliably punishes the Indian National Congress (Congress) and regional parties, it appears to spare the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Gandhi also named CEC Gyanesh Kumar as a participant in what he described as organised 'vote theft', a charge the Commission has since rejected publicly through a joint press conference by all three Election Commissioners.
BJP's Coordinated Pushback
BJP leaders across the party's hierarchy responded with coordinated criticism. BJP leader Narottam Mishra questioned Gandhi's credibility, saying: 'Rahul Gandhi is trying to save his credibility. He has lost 90 elections so far.' Mishra argued that Gandhi's simultaneous allegations of vote theft and Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) rigging were mutually contradictory, asserting: 'If he is alleging vote theft, then the EVMs are correct, so he should apologise to the country for his allegations against EVMs.'
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai described Gandhi's conduct as 'deeply unfortunate' and 'anti-national', alleging that the Congress, having lost elections 'more than 100 times', was now using its leadership to 'discredit constitutional institutions' through 'a politics of continuous lies and deception'. Sai further argued that the joint press briefing by CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, and Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi demonstrated unanimous internal agreement within the Commission, calling Gandhi's claims 'hollow'.
BJP National Media In-Charge Ashish Usha Agarwal went further, alleging a pattern of behaviour by Gandhi: 'Rahul Gandhi is a leader who, whenever there is an opportunity to defame the country or insult its constitutional institutions, is seen leading from the front.' Agarwal cited past controversies — including Gandhi's questions over military strikes and comments during the Covid-19 vaccine rollout — as supporting evidence.
The Special Investigation Register Row
The dispute is rooted in the Election Commission's drive to update the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties, led by Congress, have raised concerns that the process could be used to selectively delete voter entries, a charge the ECI has denied. This is not the first time the electoral rolls revision process has become a political flashpoint; similar controversies arose during revision exercises ahead of state elections in 2023. The BJP has framed opposition criticism as an attempt to pre-emptively delegitimise future election results.
What Happens Next
The political battle over the Election Commission's independence is likely to intensify ahead of upcoming state assembly polls. The ECI's joint press conference, in which the three commissioners presented a united front, appears designed to signal institutional stability. However, opposition parties are unlikely to stand down, and the row over the SIR process could become a sustained campaign theme. All eyes will be on whether further formal complaints or legal challenges follow Gandhi's press conference allegations.
Point of View
The party shifts the story from the Commission's conduct to Gandhi's credibility. What mainstream coverage risks underplaying is that the underlying dispute — the SIR electoral roll revision process — has raised substantive procedural questions that go beyond one opposition leader's press conference. The Election Commission's joint appearance by all three commissioners is an unusual step, suggesting the institution itself feels the pressure. The question is not merely who wins this news cycle, but whether the ECI's institutional standing can withstand a sustained opposition campaign as assembly elections approach.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SIR row that triggered Rahul Gandhi's press conference?
The row concerns the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties, led by the Congress, have alleged that the process could be misused to selectively delete voter entries, a charge the ECI has denied. Gandhi used the SIR dispute as the backdrop for his 24 September press conference, in which he made broader allegations of rigging.
What did Rahul Gandhi allege at his 24 September press conference?
Gandhi alleged large-scale rigging in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and multiple Assembly elections, and claimed that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was part of an organised 'vote theft'. He also argued that anti-incumbency consistently hurts the Congress while appearing to spare the BJP.
Why did the BJP say Gandhi's allegations were self-contradictory?
BJP leader Narottam Mishra argued that if Gandhi is now alleging vote theft through non-EVM means, he is implicitly conceding that EVMs are not tampered with — contradicting years of Congress complaints about EVM rigging. Mishra called on Gandhi to apologise to the country for his earlier EVM allegations.
What was the Election Commission's response to Gandhi's allegations?
The three Election Commissioners — CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, and Vivek Joshi — held a joint press conference asserting there was no internal disagreement within the Commission. Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai cited this as proof that Gandhi's claims were 'hollow'.
Who are the BJP leaders who responded to Rahul Gandhi's remarks?
The BJP's response included Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, BJP leader Narottam Mishra, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, and BJP National Media In-Charge Ashish Usha Agarwal, all of whom condemned Gandhi's attack on the Election Commission at separate press interactions on 27 September.
