BJP accuses Congress of 'duplicity' over SIR protest, cites Rahul Gandhi's past voter fraud demands
Synopsis
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi has called out Congress for demanding action on duplicate voters in the past — only to now protest the very SIR process that removes them. With the INDIA bloc staging a protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Congress alleging 13 crore deliberate deletions, the BJP's counter-punch exposes a sharp contradiction at the heart of the opposition's electoral integrity narrative.
Key Takeaways
The BJP on 6 October 2026 accused Congress of 'duplicity' over its protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi cited past statements by Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leaders demanding removal of duplicate voters.
The BJP countered Congress's claim of 13 crore deleted voters, saying over 2 crore were dead and 1 crore were duplicates.
The INDIA bloc had staged a protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar alleging irregularities in the SIR process.
The last comparable SIR exercise was conducted in 2003 , according to Trivedi .
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, sharply accused the Indian National Congress of hypocrisy over its protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar regarding alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The BJP charged that Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, had themselves previously demanded the removal of duplicate voters — the very exercise they now oppose.
BJP's Core Charge: Then vs Now
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, BJP Member of Parliament Sudhanshu Trivedi pointed to what he described as a fundamental contradiction in the Congress position. He noted that senior Congress leaders had at various points raised concerns about voter duplication, and questioned whether those earlier demands were truthful or whether the party's current objections were.
'Earlier Congress leaders asked for removal of duplicate voters, when it is being done now, they are blaming the process,' Trivedi said, accusing the party of dishonesty on both counts.
The '13 Crore Deleted Voters' Claim Countered
The BJP directly challenged the Congress assertion that 13 crore voters had been 'deliberately deleted' from electoral rolls. According to Trivedi, of those 13 crore names, more than 2 crore belong to deceased individuals and 1 crore are duplicates. He questioned how dead and duplicate entries could legitimately be retained on voter lists, arguing their removal is a procedural necessity rather than a political act.
He drew a parallel with the cleansing of ration card and MNREGA beneficiary lists, saying irregularities had been found in those databases as well, and that the same principle of removing ineligible entries applies to electoral rolls.
Attack on the INDIA Bloc Protest
The BJP MP was pointed in his criticism of the INDIA bloc's protest against the CEC, characterising it as an attempt to shield 'Absent, Shifted, Dead and Duplicate' voters under the guise of democratic concern. He alleged that those who benefited illegally from welfare schemes were now seeking to preserve fraudulent voter entries.
Referring to what he called an attempt to 'break into Akashwani Bhavan' during the protest, Trivedi framed the episode as emblematic of a pattern of targeting constitutional institutions.
Historical Context and Political Jabs
Trivedi noted that the last comparable SIR exercise was conducted in 2003, before which the Congress had already lost power in states accounting for 228 Lok Sabha seats. He argued that the party's present condition is a result of its own political trajectory, predating the BJP's rise to power at the Centre.
He also questioned Rahul Gandhi's campaign commitment, asking whether Gandhi had ever stayed for even one or two consecutive weeks while campaigning for Assembly elections in any state — and describing the Congress leader as a 'laidback person' making allegations of 'vote chori' (vote theft).
Taking a jibe at the Congress in the context of bypolls being held on the same day, Trivedi asked whether the party had verified its own voter lists and examined CCTV footage before raising street protests, suggesting the theatrics were premature and politically motivated.
As the SIR exercise continues to generate political friction, the coming weeks are likely to see both sides sharpen their positions ahead of any formal review or judicial intervention over the electoral roll revision process.
Point of View
Their current protest against the SIR process is politically untenable. But the BJP's rebuttal sidesteps the more substantive question — whether the SIR's methodology and scale of deletions are procedurally sound and independently verifiable. Removing dead and duplicate entries is legitimate; the dispute is over whether the process disproportionately affected genuine voters. That question deserves regulatory scrutiny, not just political sparring. The INDIA bloc's protest keeps pressure on the Election Commission, but without a credible legal or judicial challenge, it risks being perceived as obstruction rather than oversight.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BJP-Congress dispute over the SIR of electoral rolls about?
The dispute centres on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which the INDIA bloc says has led to the 'deliberate deletion' of 13 crore voters. The BJP counters that over 2 crore of those were dead voters and 1 crore were duplicates, calling their removal a legitimate cleansing exercise.
What did BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi say about Rahul Gandhi and voter duplication?
Trivedi alleged that Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leaders had themselves previously demanded removal of duplicate voters from electoral rolls. He argued that opposing the SIR process now, when it addresses the same duplication issue, amounts to contradicting their earlier stated position.
Why did the INDIA bloc protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
The INDIA bloc staged a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar alleging irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, claiming the process led to the deletion of 13 crore voters in a manner that was deliberate and politically motivated.
When was the last Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls before this one?
According to BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, the last comparable SIR exercise was conducted in 2003. He used this historical reference to argue that the process is not a new or partisan intervention.
What bypolls were being held on the day of the BJP press conference?
Bypolls were being conducted on 6 October 2026, the same day as the BJP press conference. Trivedi used the occasion to ask Congress whether it had verified its own voter lists before taking to the streets, suggesting the protests were political theatre.
