BJP slams INDIA bloc's SC march over SIR, calls it political theatre
Synopsis
The INDIA bloc's march to the Supreme Court demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over the SIR exercise was met with a double rebuff — the CJI turned away their meeting request, and the BJP unleashed a volley of attacks calling it political theatre. With multiple state elections on the horizon, the SIR dispute is rapidly becoming a fault line in national politics.
Key Takeaways
The INDIA bloc marched to the Supreme Court on 12 October 2026 demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR electoral roll revision.
CJI Surya Kant declined to meet the Opposition leaders, directing them to file a formal petition through established legal procedure.
BJP spokesperson Guru Prakash called the march 'baseless', noting that the Supreme Court had already ruled on the constitutional validity of SIR.
Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav warned that pressuring constitutional institutions threatens democracy.
BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal challenged Tejashwi Yadav to name a single person in Bihar who faced difficulties during the SIR exercise.
The dispute is set to escalate as the INDIA bloc considers filing a formal court petition over the SIR exercise.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, 12 October 2026, launched a sharp counter-offensive against the Opposition INDIA bloc after the Congress-led alliance marched towards the Supreme Court in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The BJP dismissed the march as political theatrics, arguing that the Supreme Court had already upheld the constitutional validity of the SIR exercise.
The March and the CJI's Response
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi earlier in the day announced that Opposition leaders would march to the apex court to 'initiate the legal process' and appealed to citizens to join the campaign in defence of the Constitution and democracy. INDIA bloc leaders also sought a direct appointment with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to discuss their concerns. The CJI declined the request and advised the leaders to approach the court through a petition, in accordance with established legal procedure.
The SIR exercise has been at the centre of a widening political dispute, with Opposition parties alleging irregularities in the revision process and raising concerns over the integrity of electoral rolls. The BJP has consistently defended the exercise as lawful and constitutionally sanctioned.
What the BJP Said
BJP national spokesperson Guru Prakash flatly rejected the Opposition's allegations. 'This is baseless... They are lying. The Supreme Court has already ruled on the constitutionality of SIR,' Prakash said. He also argued that the real driver behind the agitation was the Congress's repeated electoral defeats. 'The main issue is that Congress is losing wherever elections are being held. It is also losing wherever elections are conducted using ballot papers. The Congress lost in Silchar, Assam, in local elections in Tripura and in Himachal Pradesh,' he said.
Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav warned that attempts to pressure constitutional institutions posed a threat to democracy. 'If constitutional institutions are not provided security and are unable to exercise the powers granted to them under constitutional provisions, it is certainly a matter of concern, and democracy will not survive,' Yadav said. He also accused the Congress of lacking 'substantive political issues' and struggling to mount a credible challenge to the government.
BJP MPs Train Fire on Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi
BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal targeted Bihar Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav for joining the march, challenging the Opposition to produce a single person in Bihar who had faced difficulties during the SIR exercise. 'Tejashwi Yadav should first find one person in Bihar who has faced a problem with SIR. Bihar was the first state in the country where SIR was conducted. For 15 days, the poor man stood in the third row of Rahul Gandhi's jeep and travelled across Bihar. Even after touring the entire state for 15 days, he could not bring forward a single person,' Jaiswal said.
Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam questioned Rahul Gandhi's understanding of the separation of powers between the judiciary and the executive. 'Rahul Gandhi's understanding appears incomplete, or his advisers have not guided him properly. There is a difference between the judiciary and the executive. A march to a Collector's office or a political party's office is understandable. However, when approaching the judiciary, whether a leader, actor, senior minister or even the government, a petition must be filed as per the established procedure,' Kadam said.
Former MP Brij Bhushan Raises Pressure-on-Institutions Alarm
Former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh accused the INDIA bloc of attempting to coerce constitutional bodies. 'For the first time, protesters were willing to meet the Chief Justice. They wanted to meet the President, and the President met them and heard their concerns. Now, they do not want to spare even the Supreme Court. They want to pressurise democracy,' Singh said.
What Comes Next
The CJI's direction to file a formal petition means the INDIA bloc's legal challenge to the SIR exercise will now have to navigate the court's regular petition process, a route that offers less immediate political visibility than a direct meeting. Notably, this confrontation arrives as several state assembly election cycles approach, raising the electoral stakes for both sides in the SIR dispute. Whether the Opposition files a formal petition — and how the court rules — will determine the next phase of this standoff.
Point of View
In effect, the most significant moment of the day — it stripped the march of its immediate legal leverage and handed the BJP a ready-made talking point about due process. The BJP's counter-offensive, however, also sidesteps the substantive question: whether the SIR exercise was conducted with adequate transparency and safeguards. Dismissing Opposition concerns by citing electoral losses rather than addressing procedural specifics is not the same as clearing the air. As state elections approach, the SIR controversy is unlikely to fade — it is precisely the kind of issue that can be weaponised to energise base voters on both sides, regardless of what the courts eventually decide.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to update and revise voter rolls, adding new eligible voters and removing ineligible entries. The INDIA bloc has alleged irregularities in the process, while the BJP and the ECI have defended it as constitutionally valid.
Why did the INDIA bloc march to the Supreme Court on 12 October 2026?
The Congress-led INDIA bloc marched to the Supreme Court to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in the SIR electoral roll revision exercise. Opposition leaders also sought to initiate legal proceedings and requested a meeting with CJI Surya Kant, who declined and directed them to file a formal petition.
What was the BJP's response to the INDIA bloc's Supreme Court march?
The BJP dismissed the march as political theatrics, with spokesperson Guru Prakash stating that the Supreme Court had already ruled on the constitutional validity of SIR and calling the Opposition's allegations 'baseless'. Multiple BJP leaders also accused the Congress of lacking genuine political issues and attempting to pressure constitutional institutions.
Who is CEC Gyanesh Kumar and why is the Opposition demanding his resignation?
Gyanesh Kumar is the Chief Election Commissioner of India. The INDIA bloc is demanding his resignation over what it alleges are irregularities in the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, though the BJP and the ECI have rejected those allegations.
What happens next in the INDIA bloc's legal challenge over SIR?
CJI Surya Kant directed the INDIA bloc to approach the Supreme Court through a formal petition rather than a direct meeting. The Opposition's next step will be whether and when it files such a petition, which will determine the judicial trajectory of the SIR dispute.
