BJP accuses INDIA bloc of 'anarchy' bid, targets Rahul Gandhi over ECI protest
Synopsis
Hours before the INDIA bloc's march against the Election Commission, the BJP went on the offensive — accusing Congress of orchestrating a 'sponsored' assault on constitutional bodies to propel Rahul Gandhi to power. With the Supreme Court actively examining the Form 6 controversy and the SIR of electoral rolls under challenge, the confrontation between the Opposition and the ECI is entering a new, legally charged phase.
Key Takeaways
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra on 6 October 2026 accused the INDIA bloc of mounting a 'sponsored' attack on the Election Commission of India ahead of a planned Opposition protest.
Patra directly challenged four claims made by Rahul Gandhi in an X post on Monday regarding Form 6 and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
CJI Justice Surya Kant remarked during Monday's Supreme Court hearing that 'any modified Form 6 has not been approved by us', with the court indicating it would examine the record once produced.
The ECI's press statement 120 (26 September 2026) states the Form 6 declaration 'has been upheld by the Hon'ble Supreme Court', a claim Patra cited to rebut Gandhi.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar was appointed on 19 February 2025 — after the 2014, 2019, and 2024 Lok Sabha elections — a timeline the BJP used to counter bias allegations.
The Supreme Court matter on the ECI and SIR remains pending, with the Form 6 record yet to be placed before the bench.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, launched a sharp pre-emptive attack on the Congress and the INDIA bloc over their planned march against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the Opposition was mounting a 'sponsored' assault on constitutional institutions to engineer a political comeback for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The broadside came ahead of the Opposition's scheduled protest in New Delhi and framed the march as a deliberate attempt to destabilise India's democratic framework.
BJP's Central Charge: A 'Sponsored' Attack on Constitutional Bodies
Addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters in New Delhi, party national spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that the INDIA bloc's protest was less about electoral reform and more about propelling Rahul Gandhi to power through institutional disruption. 'A sponsored attempt is being made by the Opposition, especially the Congress, as to how a change of power be brought about in the country, and Rahul Gandhi be made to sit in power just like that. To do this, a blow to India's democracy is being hurled at Constitutional bodies in a sponsored manner,' Patra said.
He alleged that the Congress had pursued this strategy across multiple election cycles, repeatedly attempting to 'launch and relaunch' Rahul Gandhi, and that the current protest was the latest iteration. 'When Rahul Gandhi could not be launched in several attempts, Congress and some of its allies decided that even if Rahul Gandhi has to be launched through chaos, they will attack the country's democracy,' Patra said.
Form 6 Controversy and the Supreme Court Angle
At the centre of the Opposition's grievance is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and changes to Form 6 — the form used to register new voters. Patra alleged that 'misconceptions and fake news' had been spread about the SIR in recent days, and directly challenged what he described as four 'misleading or fake' claims made in a post shared by Rahul Gandhi on X on Monday.
The four claims Patra sought to rebut were: that 'Form 6 has been changed illegally', that 'Form 6 changed unilaterally', that the 'Election Commission of India is trying to help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)', and that there had been an 'Election Commission of India's criminal assault on Indian democracy'.
Patra cited the ECI's own fact-check of the controversy and pointed to Monday's Supreme Court hearing, quoting Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant as having remarked: 'Any modified Form 6 has not been approved by us. Let's be clear, when the record is produced, we would like to see who has modified it.' Patra argued that the Supreme Court's observation had not endorsed Gandhi's claim that Form 6 was illegal, and that the court had merely indicated it would examine the record once produced.
He also cited ECI press statement number 120, issued on 26 September 2026, which states that 'the declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR has been upheld by the Hon'ble Supreme Court', arguing that the modification, if any, applied to a declaration attached to Form 6 — not to Form 6 itself. He added that the Supreme Court's Order 152 had affirmed the ECI's authority within constitutional limits to undertake electoral roll revisions.
BJP Questions CEC Appointment Criticism
Gyanesh Kumar was appointed Chief Election Commissioner on 19 February 2025 — after the 2014, 2019, and 2024 Lok Sabha elections had already taken place. Patra used this timeline to challenge the Opposition's allegation that the CEC was acting to benefit the BJP. He drew a parallel with former CEC V.K. Sampath, who was appointed during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's tenure in 2012 and presided over the 2014 general elections — which the BJP won — and asked whether the Congress would apply the same logic retroactively.
Patra also alleged that a petition had been filed in the Supreme Court demanding Kumar's removal, describing this as part of the broader Opposition campaign against the constitutional body.
Opposition Context and What Is at Stake
The INDIA bloc's protest marks a significant escalation in Opposition pressure on the Election Commission ahead of upcoming state elections. Critics of the SIR process have argued that the revision, including the modified voter registration declaration, could disenfranchise certain communities, a concern the ECI has publicly rejected. This is not the first time the Opposition has targeted the ECI under the current dispensation — similar protests followed the Lok Sabha results in 2024.
Notably, the BJP's decision to hold a preemptive press conference signals that the ruling party is seeking to set the narrative before the march gains media traction. Whether the Supreme Court's eventual ruling on the Form 6 modification will validate or undercut either side's position remains to be seen, with the matter still pending before the bench.
Point of View
While carefully not saying the court has cleared the modification either. The CJI's own words — 'we would like to see who has modified it' — leave the matter genuinely open. The deeper issue, obscured by the political noise on both sides, is whether the SIR process meets the constitutional bar for voter inclusion and whether the ECI's unilateral revision of associated declarations required prior judicial sanction. That question, not the theatrics, is what the Supreme Court will ultimately settle.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the BJP attack the INDIA bloc's protest against the Election Commission?
The BJP accused the INDIA bloc of using the Election Commission as a pretext to destabilise constitutional institutions and bring Rahul Gandhi to power. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra described the planned march as a 'sponsored' attempt to create political anarchy ahead of upcoming elections.
What is the Form 6 controversy at the centre of the Opposition's protest?
Form 6 is the voter registration form used in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Opposition, including Rahul Gandhi, has alleged that it was illegally and unilaterally modified by the Election Commission. The ECI and the BJP dispute this, arguing only a declaration attached to Form 6 was revised, and that the Supreme Court has upheld the declaration.
What did the Supreme Court say about Form 6?
Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant remarked during the Monday hearing that 'any modified Form 6 has not been approved by us' and that the court would examine the record once produced. The BJP argues this is different from ruling the modification illegal; the matter remains pending before the bench.
When was Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar appointed, and why does the BJP cite his appointment date?
Gyanesh Kumar was appointed Chief Election Commissioner on 19 February 2025, after the 2014, 2019, and 2024 Lok Sabha elections had already been conducted. The BJP uses this timeline to counter Opposition claims that Kumar is acting to benefit the BJP in past elections.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is a periodic process by the Election Commission of India to clean and update voter rolls, ensuring accuracy by adding eligible voters and removing ineligible ones. Critics have alleged the current round's revised Form 6 declaration could disenfranchise certain communities, a charge the ECI has denied.
