Dhami launches 'Save Democracy' campaign, targets Congress over SIR objections
Synopsis
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has declared a month-long, two-phase BJP street campaign against the Congress — framing the opposition's SIR objections as an attack on democracy itself. With pointed state-by-state statistics and a veiled swipe at Rahul Gandhi, this is a full-throated political offensive ahead of the electoral season.
Key Takeaways
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the BJP's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' campaign on 22 October , running through 30 November across all 13 districts .
Phase 1 runs 22 October – 5 November ; Phase 2 runs 11 November – 30 November , featuring padayatras and public dialogues.
Dhami accused Congress of undermining public trust in constitutional institutions by opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
He cited Congress's decades-long absence from power in states including Gujarat (41 years) , West Bengal (49 years) , and Tamil Nadu (59 years) to counter allegations of institutional bias.
In a veiled jibe at Rahul Gandhi , Dhami said: 'It is easy to carry a copy of the Constitution, but one should learn to conduct himself in accordance with it.' Dhami also flagged alleged 'Bangladesh-style' sloganeering, urging that youth energy be directed toward nation-building.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday, 22 October announced a two-phase 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' campaign to be conducted across all 13 districts of Uttarakhand from 22 October to 30 November, while sharply attacking the Indian National Congress for opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Dhami accused the opposition party of attempting to erode public trust in constitutional institutions rather than accepting electoral verdicts.
The Campaign: Scope and Structure
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will execute the campaign in two distinct phases: the first running from 22 October to 5 November, and the second from 11 November to 30 November. During both phases, party workers will conduct padayatras (foot marches) and public dialogue programmes across the state, with the dual aim of raising awareness about democratic values and publicising the achievements of both the state and central governments.
In a post on social media platform X, CM Dhami said: 'Instead of accepting its electoral defeat, the Congress is engaged in creating an atmosphere of distrust towards the democratic system by raising questions on constitutional institutions and the electoral process. The politics of questioning the people's decision and pinning the blame for defeat on constitutional institutions will now be exposed before the public with facts.'
Dhami Defends the SIR Process
Addressing a press conference in Dehradun, Chief Minister Dhami personally defended the SIR process by citing his own voter registration history. Born in Pithoragarh, raised in the Khatima area, currently serving as MLA from Champawat, and residing in Dehradun due to official responsibilities, Dhami said his name had appeared on voter lists in multiple constituencies. He stated that he had since corrected and streamlined his registration.
'I have always voted in Khatima, where my mother lives and where my family has been based from the beginning,' he said, adding that the correction exercise was entirely legitimate and reflected precisely the kind of rationalisation the SIR process is designed to achieve.
Broadsides at Congress: A Historical Ledger
Dhami launched a pointed counter-offensive, arguing that the Congress's electoral decline long predates any recent institutional decisions. He noted that Congress has been out of power in Odisha for 26 years, Gujarat for 41 years, Uttar Pradesh for 37 years, Bihar for 36 years, Tripura for 33 years, West Bengal for 49 years, and Tamil Nadu for 59 years. He also noted that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar assumed office only after 2024, meaning Congress's prolonged absence from many state governments cannot be attributed to him.
In a veiled jibe at Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Dhami remarked: 'It is easy to carry a copy of the Constitution, but one should learn to conduct himself in accordance with it.'
Warning on 'Bangladesh' Remarks and Youth Mobilisation
Dhami also took aim at what he described as inflammatory slogans — including alleged calls for 'regime change' and statements about turning India 'into Bangladesh' — which he said had been encouraged by Congress. He cautioned against channelling youth energy into confrontation and unrest, pointing to political turmoil in seven countries globally as a cautionary example.
'The energy of our nation's youth should be channeled into nation-building, and they should be provided with opportunities rather than being pushed into confrontations,' he asserted. The campaign is expected to run through the end of November 2025, with outcomes likely to shape the BJP's political ground narrative heading into future state electoral cycles.
Point of View
But it sidesteps the specific procedural concerns that opposition parties and some civil society voices have raised about the SIR timeline and process. The veiled reference to Rahul Gandhi signals that Uttarakhand's campaign is being calibrated as a dress rehearsal for national messaging. What remains untested is whether the padayatra format can actually move undecided voters, or whether it primarily energises a base that is already committed.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' campaign in Uttarakhand?
It is a two-phase BJP campaign announced by Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on 22 October, running across all 13 districts of the state until 30 November 2025. The campaign involves padayatras and public dialogue programmes aimed at countering Congress's objections to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and highlighting the achievements of the state and central governments.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is an Election Commission of India exercise to comprehensively review and update voter lists, removing duplicate or ineligible entries. Congress and some opposition parties have raised objections to the process, alleging it could disenfranchise legitimate voters — claims that Dhami has firmly rejected.
Why did CM Dhami mention his own voter registration?
Dhami cited his personal case — having lived and worked across Pithoragarh, Khatima, Champawat, and Dehradun — to argue that appearing on multiple voter lists is a common, correctable situation, not evidence of wrongdoing. He said he had streamlined his registration and asked what objection he could possibly have to the SIR process.
What did Dhami say about Congress and the Chief Election Commissioner?
Dhami pointed out that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar took office only after 2024, while Congress has been out of power in several states for decades — making it logically inconsistent to attribute those losses to current electoral institutions. He listed states including Gujarat and Tamil Nadu where Congress has been absent from power for over four decades.
Who was the target of Dhami's remark about 'carrying a copy of the Constitution'?
The remark was widely understood as a veiled jibe at Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who has frequently been photographed with a copy of the Constitution at public events. Dhami said it is easy to carry the Constitution but one should also learn to conduct oneself in accordance with it.
