BJP's Nitin Nabin chairs General Secretaries meet on SIR protests, 5-state polls
Synopsis
BJP National President Nitin Nabin convened a General Secretaries meeting on 29 October to tackle two converging pressures: the Opposition INDIA bloc's street protests over the SIR voter roll exercise and the party's election groundwork in five states. A day earlier, Nabin personally led a march in Chandni Chowk — signalling that the BJP is ready to fight the SIR battle on the streets, not just in press briefings.
Key Takeaways
BJP National President Nitin Nabin chaired a General Secretaries meeting on 29 October at BJP headquarters, New Delhi at 10 am IST .
The meeting addressed Opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and allegations of 'vote theft' by Congress and the INDIA bloc .
Election strategies for five states — Uttar Pradesh , Uttarakhand , Punjab , Manipur , and Goa — were also on the agenda.
On 28 October , Nabin led the BJP's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' march through Chandni Chowk , Delhi.
Nabin called 'Congress-I' a reference to 'Italian Congress', targeting the Gandhi family during the march.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin on Thursday, 29 October chaired a crucial meeting of the party's General Secretaries at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, with the agenda spanning the Opposition's intensifying protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and election preparations across five states. The meeting, scheduled for 10 am IST, comes against the backdrop of rising political tensions between the ruling party and the Opposition INDIA bloc.
Key Agenda Items
Party leaders were expected to deliberate on the ongoing protests by the Opposition INDIA bloc against the SIR process and the Election Commission of India (ECI), along with broader political fallout from the controversy. Congress and allied parties have alleged 'vote theft' in connection with the exercise, charges the BJP has disputed.
The meeting also focused on charting organisational strategies and reviewing election-related preparations for upcoming programmes in five states — Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, and Goa. Party insiders said the conclave was intended to synchronise ground-level outreach with the central leadership's political messaging.
BJP's 'Save Democracy' Counter-Campaign
The meeting follows a high-profile show of strength by Nabin on Wednesday, 28 October, when he personally led a march through Delhi's Chandni Chowk under the party's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' campaign. The march was held amid escalating tensions over the SIR issue, with the ruling party seeking to counter the Opposition's street-level mobilisation with its own coordinated response.
This marks a clear escalation in the BJP's tactical approach — moving beyond institutional rebuttals and onto the streets to frame the narrative around democratic propriety rather than electoral roll technicalities.
Nabin's Remarks on Congress
During the Chandni Chowk march, Nabin took aim at the Gandhi family, asserting that 'Congress-I' — the faction of the grand old party founded by former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi in January 1978 — stood for 'Italian Congress' rather than 'Congress-Indira'. He described the party's recent electoral defeats as 'purification' by citizens, according to reports. The remarks were seen as an attempt to sharpen the BJP's political contrast with the Congress ahead of upcoming state elections.
What Comes Next
With elections approaching in five states, Thursday's General Secretaries meeting is likely the first in a series of coordinated planning sessions. The BJP is expected to roll out state-specific outreach programmes in the coming weeks, with the SIR controversy serving as a key political fault line heading into the campaign season.
Point of View
But it risks amplifying the very controversy the party ostensibly wants to defuse. With five state elections on the horizon, the SIR dispute is being shaped into a loyalty test for both sides. The more consequential question is whether the BJP can absorb the electoral uncertainty the SIR protests have generated in states like Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, where voter roll disputes have historically affected turnout and public trust in the process.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BJP General Secretaries meeting on 29 October about?
BJP National President Nitin Nabin chaired a meeting of the party's General Secretaries on 29 October at BJP headquarters in New Delhi to discuss Opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and election preparations in five states — Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, and Goa.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise that the Opposition is protesting?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a voter roll update exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India. The Opposition INDIA bloc, including Congress, has raised allegations of 'vote theft' in connection with the process, leading to street protests and political confrontations with the BJP.
What is the BJP's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' campaign?
It is a BJP counter-mobilisation drive launched in response to the Opposition's SIR protests. BJP National President Nitin Nabin personally led a march under this campaign through Chandni Chowk in Delhi on 28 October 2026, framing the BJP's position as a defence of democratic institutions against what it characterises as anarchy by the Opposition.
Which five states is the BJP focusing on for upcoming elections?
The BJP is reviewing election strategies for Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, and Goa, according to the agenda of the 29 October General Secretaries meeting.
What did Nitin Nabin say about Congress during the Chandni Chowk march?
Nabin claimed that 'Congress-I' — the faction founded by former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi in January 1978 — stood for 'Italian Congress' rather than 'Congress-Indira', taking a direct swipe at the Gandhi family. He also described the Congress's electoral defeats as 'purification' by citizens.
