Congress EC protest a 'political gimmick', says Rajasthan BJP chief Rathore
Synopsis
Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore dismissed the Congress protest at the Election Commission as a 300–400-person media stunt, questioned Rahul Gandhi's conduct with a woman police officer, cited internal Congress discord over Sachin Pilot, and alleged a potential foreign conspiracy — a sweeping counterattack that signals the BJP's intention to go on the offensive over the EC row.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore called the Congress protest against the Election Commission a 'political gimmick' on 8 October 2026 .
Rathore said a delegation of five to seven people could have sought a formal appointment rather than staging a 300–400-person demonstration.
He criticised Rahul Gandhi's alleged conduct toward a woman police officer as a breach of 'dignity and decorum'.
Rathore cited a reported rift between Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Sachin Pilot to question Congress unity claims.
The BJP leader alleged a possible foreign conspiracy behind efforts to destabilise India's democratic institutions.
Rajasthan Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Madan Rathore on Thursday, 8 October 2026, sharply criticised the Congress party's protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) in Delhi, calling it a staged political stunt rather than a legitimate democratic grievance. Rathore framed the entire episode as a case of 'Election Commission versus Congress Party', questioning the Opposition's intentions and conduct.
Rathore's Core Charge: Follow the Process
The Rajasthan BJP chief argued that the Congress had well-established institutional channels available to it. He said a delegation of five to seven people could have sought a formal appointment with Election Commission officials and presented its concerns through the prescribed procedure.
'Instead, staging a protest with 300–400 people is nothing more than a political gimmick and an attempt to garner media attention,' Rathore said. He added that Congress leaders were fully aware such protests would not yield results, yet chose to proceed purely to remain visible in newspaper headlines and on news channels.
On Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
Rathore maintained that the mass demonstration would neither lead to any action against Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar nor affect the electoral process in any meaningful way. He alleged that the Congress was using the protest as a vehicle to project itself as an active Opposition — a perception exercise rather than a substantive challenge.
He further alleged that through such protests, the Congress was attempting to create confusion and provoke the public, and urged the party to place its faith in democratic and constitutional institutions.
Rahul Gandhi's Conduct Under Scrutiny
The Rajasthan BJP chief also turned his criticism toward Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, calling on the media to condemn what he described as inappropriate behaviour toward a woman police officer during the protest.
Rathore specifically flagged an incident of Rahul Gandhi allegedly placing a hand on the female officer's back, calling it a breach of propriety and decorum. 'Leaders in public life are expected to conduct themselves with dignity and decorum. Such behaviour towards a female police officer reflects a lack of proper upbringing and respect for boundaries,' Rathore said.
Cracks in Congress Unity, Randhawa-Pilot Row
Rathore also questioned claims of internal unity within the Congress, stating that 'only those who harbour doubts feel the need to repeatedly assert, we are all one.' He alleged that Congress leaders were merely assembling for photo opportunities, adding that genuine cohesion does not require repeated public demonstration.
He cited a reported incident involving Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Sachin Pilot, alleging that Randhawa had asked Pilot to make a statement and, after Pilot declined, there was reportedly talk of bringing him in forcibly. 'Senior party leaders should be treated with dignity and their autonomy should be respected,' Rathore said.
Foreign Conspiracy Allegation
In a broader charge, Rathore alleged that attempts were being made to create instability in India and claimed there could be a foreign conspiracy behind such efforts, with some domestic leaders allegedly acting as 'puppets of foreign powers.' He urged citizens to remain vigilant against what he characterised as efforts to undermine the country's unity, integrity, and democratic institutions. The Congress party had not responded to Rathore's remarks at the time of this report.
Point of View
The BJP avoids engaging with whatever grievance the Congress actually brought to the Election Commission. The 'foreign conspiracy' allegation is a recurring BJP escalation tactic that tends to generate heat without requiring evidence. The real question mainstream coverage often skips is what the Congress protest was substantively about — and whether the ECI responded to it — details that Rathore's statement is conspicuously designed to crowd out.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Madan Rathore criticise the Congress protest at the Election Commission?
Rajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore called the Congress protest a political gimmick, arguing that the party should have followed the established procedure of seeking a formal appointment with a small delegation rather than staging a 300–400-person demonstration in Delhi. He said Congress leaders were protesting solely for media visibility, not to achieve any substantive outcome.
What did Rathore say about Rahul Gandhi's conduct at the protest?
Rathore criticised Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for allegedly placing a hand on a woman police officer's back during the protest, calling it a violation of propriety and decorum. He said leaders in public life must conduct themselves with dignity and that the behaviour reflected a 'lack of proper upbringing and respect for boundaries.'
What is the Congress–Election Commission dispute about?
The Congress held a protest at the Election Commission of India office in Delhi over undisclosed grievances against the Commission, including concerns reportedly related to Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The specifics of the Congress complaint were not detailed in Rathore's remarks, which focused primarily on criticising the form of the protest rather than its substance.
What did Rathore allege about internal Congress unity?
Rathore alleged that Congress leaders were assembling merely for photo opportunities and cited a reported dispute between Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot — in which Pilot reportedly declined to make a statement when asked — as evidence of internal discord beneath the party's public unity displays.
What was the foreign conspiracy allegation Rathore made?
Rathore alleged that efforts were underway to create instability in India and claimed a foreign conspiracy could be behind them, with some domestic leaders allegedly acting as 'puppets of foreign powers.' He urged citizens to remain vigilant, though he did not name any specific country or provide supporting evidence for the claim.
