Giriraj Singh: Rahul Gandhi blames EC, EVMs only when he loses
Synopsis
BJP minister Giriraj Singh didn't just defend the Election Commission — he went on the offensive in Nagpur, accusing Rahul Gandhi of double standards on EVMs, alleging Sonia Gandhi voted without citizenship and should be jailed, and branding Owaisi 'another Jinnah.' The remarks, delivered on the sidelines of the Indian Cotton Summit 2026, signal a sharp BJP counter-offensive as the SIR electoral roll debate heats up.
Key Takeaways
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh accused Rahul Gandhi of blaming the Election Commission and EVMs only when he loses elections, citing his wins in Kerala and Himachal Pradesh .
Singh alleged Sonia Gandhi lived in India for 15 years without citizenship and voted during that period, calling for her to be jailed.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi had called the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls a 'backdoor NRC'; Singh responded by calling Owaisi 'another Jinnah.' Singh attended the Indian Cotton Summit 2026 in Nagpur alongside Minister Nitin Gadkari on 27 September 2026 .
The remarks come amid a broader opposition-ruling party standoff over the SIR process and the ECI's conduct.
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday, 27 September 2026, launched a sharp attack on Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in Nagpur, accusing the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition of selectively blaming the Election Commission of India (ECI) and electronic voting machines (EVMs) for electoral defeats while staying silent when his party wins.
Singh's Charge Against Rahul Gandhi
Addressing questions about Rahul Gandhi's allegations against the ECI over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Giriraj Singh drew a pointed contrast. 'When Rahul Gandhi wins elections in Kerala and Himachal Pradesh, he says everything is fine,' Singh said. 'However, where he loses, he blames the Election Commission and EVMs, claiming that votes were stolen. In fact, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have committed vote theft,' he added.
Citizenship Allegations Against Sonia Gandhi
Singh escalated the attack by alleging that Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had lived in India for 15 years without acquiring citizenship and had voted during that period — an act he said warranted jail. 'I feel that Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are hatching a conspiracy against the country. Why did Sonia Gandhi not take Indian citizenship?' Singh said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister also alleged that 'Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi are the three people who dislike Prime Minister Narendra Modi because he comes from a poor family.' These are the minister's stated allegations; they have not been independently verified and the Congress has not responded on record in the available source.
Singh Calls Owaisi 'Another Jinnah'
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi had earlier described the SIR of electoral rolls as a 'backdoor NRC' — a reference to the proposed National Register of Citizens. Responding sharply, Giriraj Singh said: 'I have repeatedly said regarding Owaisi that some "Jinnahs" have emerged. Owaisi is another such Jinnah who has come to the fore. Isn't he aware of the law? Does he not believe in the Constitution? Will Sharia law be implemented here?' Singh further said Owaisi was 'certainly another avatar of Jinnah' in his community's eyes — remarks that are likely to draw strong pushback from opposition leaders and civil society.
Nagpur Visit and Cotton Summit
Singh's remarks came on the sidelines of his visit to Nagpur, where he attended the inaugural ceremony of the Indian Cotton Summit 2026 alongside Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. In a post on social media platform X, Singh said: 'Cotton represents the hard work of our farmers and serves as a strong foundation for the country's economy and the textile industry. The summit placed special emphasis on increasing cotton productivity, boosting farmers' income, promoting sustainable farming, and strengthening the entire value chain.' He added that a 'robust cotton ecosystem will play a pivotal role in propelling India to new heights in the global textile sector and accelerating the resolve for an Atmanirbhar Bharat.'
What Comes Next
The remarks come amid a broader political confrontation over the SIR process, which opposition parties argue could disenfranchise voters, while the ruling BJP frames it as a legitimate roll-cleansing exercise. With the INDIA bloc meeting drawing attention and the ECI under scrutiny from multiple quarters, the verbal exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches are unlikely to ease in the days ahead.
Point of View
Pivot to identity-and-loyalty framing. What gets obscured is the legitimate policy debate over whether the SIR process could inadvertently remove valid voters from rolls — a concern raised not just by the INDIA bloc but by electoral rights observers. The 'double standards on EVMs' charge has rhetorical punch, but it sidesteps the structural question of whether India's electoral roll revision mechanisms are transparent enough to command cross-party confidence.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Giriraj Singh say about Rahul Gandhi and the Election Commission?
Singh accused Rahul Gandhi of blaming the Election Commission and EVMs only when he loses elections, noting that Gandhi raised no objections after victories in Kerala and Himachal Pradesh. He alleged that it was Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi who had committed 'vote theft,' not the Commission.
What allegation did Giriraj Singh make against Sonia Gandhi?
Singh alleged that Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi lived in India for 15 years without acquiring citizenship and voted during that period, arguing she should therefore be sent to jail. These are the minister's stated allegations and have not been independently verified.
Why did Giriraj Singh call Asaduddin Owaisi 'another Jinnah'?
Singh made the remark in response to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's description of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as a 'backdoor NRC.' Singh questioned whether Owaisi respected the Constitution and said he was 'certainly another avatar of Jinnah.'
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is an electoral roll revision exercise carried out by the Election Commission of India to update and clean voter lists. Opposition parties, including the INDIA bloc and AIMIM, have raised concerns that it could disenfranchise legitimate voters, while the BJP defends it as a routine and necessary process.
Why was Giriraj Singh in Nagpur on 27 September 2026?
Singh was in Nagpur to attend the inaugural ceremony of the Indian Cotton Summit 2026, held alongside Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. He also posted about the summit on social media platform X, emphasising cotton's role in farmer welfare and the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
