BJP hits back at Rahul Gandhi over CEC remarks, calls language 'unbecoming'
Synopsis
The BJP mounted a coordinated multi-state pushback on Friday after Rahul Gandhi demanded CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and accused the Election Commission of vote theft. With leaders from West Bengal to Jharkhand invoking the UPA's own electoral record, the BJP is trying to reframe the controversy around Gandhi's language — not the substance of the ECI row.
Key Takeaways
BJP leaders across states on 25 September 2026 condemned Rahul Gandhi's language targeting CEC Gyanesh Kumar as 'unbecoming.' Upendra Kushwaha urged the Opposition to let the relevant authorities handle the matter without interference.
Dilip Ghosh questioned whether Gandhi believes he has the authority of the judiciary or the Constitution to demand arrests.
Babulal Marandi reminded that the Election Commission before the 2014 defeat of Congress was appointed by the UPA government.
Rahul Gandhi had called on CEC Gyanesh Kumar to resign and become an 'approver' in the alleged 'vote theft' case.
The ECI has denied reports of internal differences over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Rahul Gandhi's sharp criticism of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission of India (ECI) drew a strong collective rebuke from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and ministers on Friday, 25 September 2026, with multiple voices calling the Leader of the Opposition's language 'unbecoming' and urging him to allow due process to run its course.
Key Reactions from BJP Leaders
Rajya Sabha MP and RLM national president Upendra Kushwaha acknowledged that political disagreements are natural but drew a line at the tenor of Gandhi's remarks. 'Such language should not be used. Conflict between two sides is normal. Conflict is not unnatural. The authorities responsible for looking into the matter will take necessary steps. Please let them do their job,' he said.
Jammu & Kashmir BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa was dismissive, claiming that Gandhi's own party members do not take his statements seriously. West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh went further, questioning the constitutional basis of Gandhi's demands: 'Has Rahul Gandhi become the courts and the judiciary, or has he become the Constitution itself, that he gets to decide who should be arrested?' Ghosh also argued rhetorically that losing an election conducted freely and fairly reflects the public's verdict, not institutional failure.
Jharkhand LoP Invokes UPA-Era Election Commission
Jharkhand Assembly Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi turned the argument historical, pointing out that the Election Commission in place before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections — when the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in power — had been appointed by the Congress, and yet the party suffered a sweeping defeat. 'Most of the issues raised are not based on logic; most are baseless,' Marandi said, adding that when a three-member panel takes unanimous decisions, individual differences are natural and do not constitute wrongdoing.
What Rahul Gandhi Said
The controversy stems from a press conference at which Gandhi directly called on CEC Gyanesh Kumar to resign and turn 'approver' in what he described as the alleged 'stealing' of votes. He also questioned what he called the absence of any anti-incumbency against the BJP, asserting that 'the anti-incumbency factor spares no one.' This came days after a media report alleged differences within the poll panel over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls — a report the ECI has since rejected.
Background and Broader Context
The row over the ECI's functioning has been building for weeks, with Opposition parties questioning the integrity of the electoral rolls revision process. The Commission's denial of the reported internal rift has not fully defused tensions, and Gandhi's press conference escalated the confrontation considerably. Notably, this is not the first time Gandhi has publicly questioned the Election Commission; similar criticisms were levelled ahead of and after the 2024 general elections. The BJP's coordinated multi-state response on Friday suggests a deliberate effort to shift the narrative toward Gandhi's rhetoric rather than engage with the substance of the ECI controversy.
As the debate over electoral integrity intensifies, how the ECI responds to sustained Opposition pressure — and whether it releases further clarifications on the SIR process — is likely to shape the political discourse in the coming weeks.
Point of View
Multi-state response is a classic counter-narrative play — focus on tone, sidestep substance. By flagging Gandhi's language rather than addressing the SIR controversy or the reported ECI rift, the party avoids a terrain where questions about electoral roll integrity are harder to deflect. Gandhi's demand that the CEC resign and turn 'approver' is politically pointed but legally imprecise, giving the BJP easy rhetorical ground. The deeper issue — whether the ECI's internal functioning withstands scrutiny — remains unresolved and will not be settled by trading accusations about who was in power in 2014.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Rahul Gandhi criticising CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
Rahul Gandhi, at a press conference, demanded that CEC Gyanesh Kumar resign and turn 'approver' in what he alleged was the 'stealing' of votes. His remarks followed a media report claiming differences within the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls — a report the ECI has since rejected.
What has the BJP said in response to Rahul Gandhi's remarks?
Multiple BJP leaders called Gandhi's language 'unbecoming' and urged him to let the relevant authorities handle the matter. Leaders including Upendra Kushwaha, Dilip Ghosh, and Babulal Marandi each responded separately, questioning the basis and tone of Gandhi's criticism.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls controversy?
The SIR is an electoral rolls revision process that was reportedly the subject of disagreements within the Election Commission of India. The ECI has denied these reports, but the controversy has fuelled Opposition allegations of irregularities in voter registration.
How did Babulal Marandi counter Rahul Gandhi's allegations?
Jharkhand Assembly Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi argued that the Election Commission before the 2014 general elections — which saw a massive Congress defeat — had itself been appointed by the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh. He said most of Gandhi's current allegations were 'baseless' and 'not based on logic.'
Has the Election Commission of India responded to the controversy?
The ECI has rejected the media report alleging internal differences over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. No further official statement from the Commission directly addressing Gandhi's resignation demand has been reported so far.
