Gujarat BJP chief Jagdish Vishwakarma holds SIR outreach in Ahmedabad, meets Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Synopsis
Gujarat BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma took the party's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' campaign to Ahmedabad's Nikol constituency on 7 November, holding back-to-back outreach meetings on electoral roll revision — and separately sought blessings from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the Art of Living Ashram in Vasad, signalling the BJP's strategy of combining civic engagement with spiritual outreach to build legitimacy for the SIR process.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma held outreach meetings in Ahmedabad on 7 November to explain the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Meetings were held in the Nikol Assembly constituency , including at Chhaganbhai Ni Wadi, Indrapuri Ward .
Vishwakarma visited the Art of Living Ashram in Vasad, Anand district and met Sri Sri Ravi Shankar , receiving his blessings.
The visit was attended by state minister Kamlesh Patel , MP Devusinh Chauhan , MP Mitesh Patel , and district BJP president Sanjay Patel .
The BJP used the meetings to counter what it called 'misleading propaganda' by the Opposition against the SIR exercise.
The outreach is part of BJP's statewide 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' campaign targeting diverse sections of society.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Gujarat president Jagdish Vishwakarma on Saturday, 7 November conducted a series of outreach meetings with intellectuals, social leaders, and prominent citizens in Ahmedabad to build support for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls — a cornerstone of the party's statewide 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' campaign. Earlier in the day, he also visited the Art of Living Ashram in Vasad, Anand district, where he met spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and received his blessings.
Outreach in Nikol Assembly Constituency
Vishwakarma's Ahmedabad engagements were centred on the Nikol Assembly constituency, where he met influential residents and civil society figures to discuss the rationale and mechanics of the SIR exercise. A separate interaction was later held at Chhaganbhai Ni Wadi in Indrapuri Ward, also within the Nikol constituency.
Party leaders said the discussions covered the importance of clean and transparent electoral rolls for the integrity of democratic institutions, as well as what BJP leaders described as the 'national interest' dimension of the revision process. Ahmedabad MP Hasmukh Patel was present at both interactions, alongside other BJP leaders and local representatives.
What the BJP Said
According to party leaders, the meetings addressed 'the need for purification of electoral rolls, strengthening democratic institutions and the significance of the SIR process in the national interest.' The BJP also used the platform to push back against what it characterised as 'misleading propaganda' by the Opposition regarding the revision exercise, though specifics of those claims were not detailed.
The outreach is part of a broader BJP initiative to engage diverse segments of society — from religious leaders to neighbourhood associations — in support of the SIR drive across Gujarat.
Visit to Art of Living Ashram
The meeting with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the Vasad ashram was described by the party as cordial. The gathering was attended by state minister Kamlesh Patel, district BJP president Sanjay Patel, former Union Minister and MP Devusinh Chauhan, MP Mitesh Patel, as well as several MLAs and senior party functionaries.
The visit signals BJP's effort to seek endorsement from influential spiritual figures as it seeks to frame the SIR exercise as a democratic necessity rather than a political manoeuvre — a framing the Opposition has reportedly contested.
Context and What Comes Next
The SIR process involves a systematic review of voter lists to remove duplicate, bogus, or outdated entries. The BJP has positioned the exercise as essential for electoral transparency, while critics — according to reports — have raised concerns about potential disenfranchisement. This is among the most visible state-level mobilisations BJP has undertaken in Gujarat ahead of anticipated electoral activity.
The party's statewide campaign is expected to continue with similar outreach events across other constituencies, with senior leaders likely to engage additional religious and civil society figures in the coming weeks.
Point of View
And the party's aggressive campaigning around it suggests it anticipates a contested narrative. What is missing from this mobilisation is any independent civil society voice on whether the revision process has adequate safeguards against legitimate voters being struck off — a concern that has surfaced in similar exercises elsewhere. Until that question is addressed transparently, the BJP's 'democratic integrity' framing will continue to face credibility headwinds beyond its own base.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Gujarat?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a systematic review of voter lists aimed at removing duplicate, outdated, or ineligible entries to ensure accurate and transparent electoral rolls. The BJP has been running a statewide campaign to explain and build public support for the exercise, framing it as essential for democratic integrity.
Why did Gujarat BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma meet Sri Sri Ravi Shankar?
Vishwakarma visited the Art of Living Ashram in Vasad, Anand district, on 7 November and met Sri Sri Ravi Shankar as part of the BJP's outreach to influential spiritual and social figures. The party described the meeting as cordial, and Vishwakarma received blessings from the spiritual leader.
What is the BJP's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' campaign?
It is a statewide BJP initiative in Gujarat designed to engage citizens, social leaders, and prominent personalities in support of the SIR electoral roll revision process. The campaign also seeks to counter what the party describes as Opposition misinformation about the exercise.
Who attended the meetings in Ahmedabad and Vasad?
Ahmedabad MP Hasmukh Patel was present at both Nikol constituency interactions. The Vasad ashram meeting was attended by state minister Kamlesh Patel, district BJP president Sanjay Patel, former Union Minister and MP Devusinh Chauhan, and MP Mitesh Patel, along with MLAs and other party leaders.
What has the Opposition said about the SIR exercise?
According to reports, the Opposition has raised concerns about the revision exercise, with the BJP characterising their position as 'misleading propaganda.' Specific Opposition claims were not detailed in available accounts, but critics have broadly questioned whether such exercises risk disenfranchising legitimate voters.
