Kishan Reddy slams Congress over Election Commission 'double standards'
Synopsis
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy has turned Congress's Election Commission allegations back on the party itself — citing its praise for the ECI in states it won versus its criticism whenever the BJP prevails. With a reference to the 1975 Emergency and a claim that Congress tried to remove Election Commissioners in 2009, the BJP's counter is as much a history lesson as a political rebuttal.
Key Takeaways
Kishan Reddy accused Congress of praising the Election Commission in states it won — Karnataka , Himachal Pradesh , Telangana — while blaming EVMs when the BJP wins.
Reddy rejected Rahul Gandhi 's vote-stealing allegation, saying the BJP 'wins the hearts of the people.' All three Election Commissioners reportedly met and clarified there were no internal differences, according to Reddy.
On the SIR electoral roll revision, Reddy said it is being conducted under Supreme Court supervision and is a constitutional process.
Reddy invoked the Emergency of 1975 and alleged Congress recommended removal of Election Commissioners in 2009 to challenge the party's democratic credentials.
Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on 27 September launched a sharp attack on the Indian National Congress in Hyderabad, accusing the party of practising double standards by praising the Election Commission of India (ECI) when it wins elections and blaming EVMs and the poll body when it loses. The minister made the remarks at a press conference, responding to recent allegations by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was manipulating votes.
The Core Allegation
Reddy categorically rejected Gandhi's charge, asserting that the BJP 'wins the hearts of the people' rather than stealing votes. He pointed to what he described as a glaring contradiction in the Congress position: the party had praised the Election Commission's functioning in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana — all states where it recently came to power — while also commending the ECI for removing bogus voters in Kerala. Yet the same party criticises EVMs and the poll body whenever the BJP prevails. 'It is not the Election Commission's responsibility to ensure the Congress party's victory, nor the duty of EVMs to make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister,' Reddy said.
On Reports of ECI Internal Differences
Addressing media reports suggesting friction among Election Commissioners, Reddy said such internal correspondence and discussions are a routine part of institutional functioning. He noted that all three Election Commissioners had met in person and clarified there were no differences among them. 'With that, the matter was put to rest. There is no need for the opposition to create an unnecessary controversy over this,' he said.
The SIR Process and State-Level Inconsistency
On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls — a process being conducted under Supreme Court orders — Reddy argued that removing deceased voters, duplicate entries, and erroneous details is a constitutional obligation. He alleged that Congress finds this process acceptable when it benefits the party in states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but criticises the same exercise in West Bengal and elsewhere, calling it 'a clear example of their double standards.'
Historical Accountability and Broader Institutional Criticism
Reddy went further, challenging Congress's right to speak on constitutional matters by invoking the Emergency of 1975 — when, he said, the party suppressed press freedom, trampled civil rights, and imprisoned opposition leaders. He also claimed that in 2009, the Congress recommended to the President the removal of Election Commissioners who were not complying with the party's wishes. The minister additionally accused Rahul Gandhi of targeting a wide range of constitutional and security institutions, including the Army Chief, the Air Force, the surgical strikes record, NSA Ajit Doval, the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Chief Justice of India (CJI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the CBI, the Intelligence Bureau, media houses, Parliament, and the GST system. 'Rahul Gandhi has not spared a single institution,' Reddy alleged, describing the conduct as 'malicious propaganda.'
The BJP's aggressive counter-offensive on the ECI controversy signals a sustained political battle over the credibility of India's electoral institutions ahead of upcoming state elections.
Point of View
But it does not address the current specifics: the ECI internal correspondence that prompted the controversy in the first place. Notably, the minister's claim that the three Commissioners personally met and resolved their differences is presented as a political closure, when it is at best a procedural one. The underlying question — whether the SIR process is being applied uniformly across states regardless of political colour — remains unanswered. Voters in opposition-governed states will be watching whether the Supreme Court's supervisory role delivers that consistency.
NationPress
28 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did G. Kishan Reddy say about Congress and the Election Commission?
Reddy accused Congress of double standards, saying the party praises the Election Commission when it wins states like Karnataka and Telangana but blames EVMs and the ECI whenever the BJP wins. He made the remarks at a press conference in Hyderabad on 27 September.
What are the reports about differences among Election Commissioners?
Media reports had suggested friction among members of the Election Commission. Reddy said all three Commissioners met personally and clarified there were no differences, calling the controversy unnecessary.
What is the SIR process that Reddy defended?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an electoral roll exercise being conducted under Supreme Court orders to remove names of deceased voters, duplicate entries, and erroneous details. Reddy argued it is a constitutional process that Congress selectively opposes depending on which state benefits.
Why did Kishan Reddy bring up the Emergency of 1975?
Reddy cited Congress's imposition of the Emergency in 1975 — when press freedom was curbed, civil rights were suspended, and opposition leaders were jailed — to challenge the party's moral authority to speak on democratic and constitutional values.
What institutions did Reddy say Rahul Gandhi has targeted?
Reddy alleged Gandhi has cast aspersions on the Army Chief, the Air Force, surgical strikes, NSA Ajit Doval, the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Chief Justice of India, the ED, the CBI, the Intelligence Bureau, media houses, Parliament, and the GST system.
