BJP seats fell from 303 to 240 under CEC Gyanesh Kumar, says OP Rajbhar amid Opposition protest
Synopsis
Uttar Pradesh Minister OP Rajbhar delivered a pointed counter to the Opposition's protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar: if the Election Commission had rigged things for BJP, he asked, why did the party's seat count drop from 303 to 240? It's a rare instance of a ruling-coalition leader using the BJP's own electoral setback as a shield for the poll body — and it signals how the NDA plans to fight this battle ahead of the winter session.
Key Takeaways
UP Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on 2 October defended CEC Gyanesh Kumar against Opposition demands for his resignation.
Rajbhar argued that BJP's seat count falling from 303 to 240 under Kumar disproves allegations of electoral bias.
Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav called Opposition leaders 'murderers of democracy' for questioning the Election Commission.
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh dismissed the protest as a Congress publicity campaign ahead of the winter session.
The dispute stems from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and reports that Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi raised objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months .
The Election Commission has clarified that all decisions, including on the SIR, were taken unanimously by the three-member panel.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Friday, 2 October sharply rebutted the Opposition's ongoing protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, arguing that the decline in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Lok Sabha tally — from 303 seats in 2019 to 240 seats — was itself proof that the Election Commission had not favoured the ruling party.
Rajbhar's Core Argument
Addressing reporters, Rajbhar said the Opposition was using the Election Commission as a convenient excuse. 'These people are just looking for an excuse in the name of the Election Commission. They should know that in 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 303 seats. After Gyanesh Kumar came, it came down to 240. If there was theft, would it have increased or decreased?' he said.
Rajbhar also turned the argument on its head by invoking the pre-2014 era. 'Before 2014, the entire system was under the control of Congress. So, did Congress get the Election Commission to commit irregularities and make Modi ji the Prime Minister?' he added. The remarks are among the most direct counter-offensives from a ruling coalition leader since the Opposition's protest against Kumar intensified.
Other NDA Voices Weigh In
Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav went further, accusing Opposition leaders of lacking faith in constitutional bodies altogether. 'The people in the Opposition have no faith in democracy. They also have no faith in constitutional institutions. These are people who are murderers of democracy and do not believe in the Constitution. The Election Commission is a constitutional institution, and Gyanesh Kumar is heading it,' Yadav said.
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh framed the protest as little more than a publicity exercise. 'As the winter session of Parliament approaches, Congress MPs sit outside and inside Parliament, basking in the sun. Others also join them. This will continue for a month, two months or even three months during winter, with them sitting in the sun. This is how the Congress conducts its publicity campaigns,' he said.
What Triggered the Opposition Protest
The dispute centres on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which Opposition parties have criticised as opaque and potentially exclusionary. The controversy deepened after reports emerged that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months to decisions and orders — some of which, they reportedly said, were issued without their knowledge.
Opposition parties have demanded Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, citing a pattern of alleged unilateral decision-making at the top of the commission. This comes amid broader tensions over electoral integrity that have persisted since the 2024 general election result.
Election Commission's Clarification
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has firmly pushed back against the narrative, clarifying that the three-member commission had taken all decisions — including those relating to the SIR — unanimously. The commission's response has not, however, quietened the Opposition, which has continued to press for Kumar's exit.
With the winter session of Parliament approaching, the stand-off between the ruling coalition and the Opposition over the Election Commission's conduct is likely to spill onto the floor of both Houses.
Point of View
And the reported internal dissent from two Election Commissioners on at least 14 decisions over 10 months is not easily dismissed by an outcome-based defence. The Election Commission's 'unanimous decision' clarification and the commissioners' reported objection notes cannot both be fully accurate, and that contradiction deserves independent scrutiny. With the winter session approaching, this row is less about CEC Gyanesh Kumar personally and more about a structural question: whether the collegial model of the commission is functioning as intended.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Opposition protesting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
Opposition parties are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which they allege was conducted without proper consultation. Reports that two Election Commissioners recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months have fuelled the demand.
What did OP Rajbhar say in defence of the Election Commission?
Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar argued that the BJP's own seat count falling from 303 in 2019 to 240 in the subsequent election — under CEC Gyanesh Kumar's watch — disproves any claim of electoral bias in the ruling party's favour. He also asked why Congress, which controlled the system before 2014, would have allowed the Election Commission to make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is a process through which the Election Commission revises and updates voter rolls intensively in specific regions. The Opposition has criticised the current SIR exercise as lacking transparency and potentially disenfranchising voters, allegations the Election Commission has denied.
Has the Election Commission responded to the allegations?
Yes. The Election Commission of India has clarified that all decisions related to the SIR — and more broadly — were taken unanimously by its three-member panel. The commission has not directly addressed the reported objection notes attributed to Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
What is the political significance of this dispute ahead of the winter session?
With Parliament's winter session approaching, the Opposition's protest against the Election Commission is expected to become a flashpoint inside both Houses. The NDA's coordinated pushback — from multiple state ministers on the same day — signals that the ruling coalition intends to frame the protest as an attack on constitutional institutions rather than engage with the specific procedural concerns raised.
