Kumaraswamy slams Rahul Gandhi's 'drama' over Election Commission SIR
Synopsis
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has publicly ridiculed Congress's sustained protests over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision, calling it a year-long 'drama' designed to defame the poll body and divert attention from PM Modi's governance record — a sharp escalation of BJP-JD(S) rhetoric against the opposition ahead of a potentially volatile electoral season.
Key Takeaways
Kumaraswamy on 7 October called Congress's protests over the Election Commission's SIR a 'drama' and said he 'really pitied' it.
He questioned why Rahul Gandhi , as Leader of Opposition, was personally involved, saying the matter should be left to the poll panel.
Kumaraswamy alleged the protests were aimed at defaming the Election Commissioner and the Central government .
He claimed the controversy was being used to distract from PM Modi 's developmental work, as the Prime Minister marks 25 years in public life.
He flagged drought and drinking water crises in Karnataka as issues the Congress state government should focus on instead.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday, 7 October sharply criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his party's sustained protests against the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying he 'really pitied the drama' being played out over the past year. Speaking to media at the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) headquarters in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy said the entire country was watching the protests unfold.
Kumaraswamy Questions Congress's Motives
Kumaraswamy questioned why the Congress president and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha were personally involving themselves in an issue that, in his view, should be left to the poll panel. 'Why is the Congress President and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha wasting his time by raising this issue? Better to leave it to the Election Commission. Why do we have to get involved in this?' he said.
The minister further demanded evidence to substantiate the opposition's allegations against the Election Commissioner, alleging that the protests were being organised on the basis of a matter leaked to the media and were aimed at defaming both the Election Commissioner and the Central government.
Allegation of Diverting Attention from PM Modi's Work
Kumaraswamy alleged that the controversy was being deliberately used to divert public attention from the work of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also commented on opposition parties convening at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence to discuss a letter seeking an appointment with the Election Commission, saying the issue was being unnecessarily prolonged. 'They want to keep it alive. For that, they are doing all these unnecessary things,' he said.
Asked whether the matter posed an existential challenge for opposition parties, Kumaraswamy dismissed the suggestion, saying it would not help them in their future politics or political existence.
Praise for PM Modi's 25 Years in Public Life
Referring to Prime Minister Modi's 25 years in public life, Kumaraswamy congratulated him and said he had worked continuously with a vision to develop the country and strengthen India's standing among other nations. 'Despite all these kinds of disturbances, he is moving very strongly for the development of the country,' Kumaraswamy said.
Karnataka's Pressing Issues and Congress's Internal Politics
Kumaraswamy also turned attention to the Congress government in Karnataka, noting that the state faces several pressing challenges including drought and drinking water shortages, which he implied were being overshadowed by the political protests. He claimed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had contributed to the welfare of weaker sections but alleged that the present political developments within the Congress were linked to the party's internal issues rather than genuine concerns about electoral integrity.
The remarks signal a sharpening of political tensions between the ruling alliance at the Centre and the Congress-led opposition ahead of what is expected to be an increasingly contested electoral season.
Point of View
And framing Rahul Gandhi as a distraction-seeker rather than a watchdog serves a dual purpose. The SIR controversy, however, is not trivial: electoral roll revisions have historically been flashpoints for allegations of voter suppression, and the opposition's demand for a meeting with the Election Commission reflects a pattern of institutional trust erosion that neither side has addressed substantively. Dismissing the protests as 'drama' without engaging with the underlying concerns risks deepening that erosion. The real accountability question — whether the SIR process has procedural safeguards adequate to prevent exclusions — remains unanswered in this exchange.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) that triggered the controversy?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a process conducted by the Election Commission of India to update and verify electoral rolls. The Congress party has been protesting against the ECI over this exercise, alleging concerns about its conduct, which the ECI and the ruling alliance dispute.
Why did Kumaraswamy criticise Rahul Gandhi over the Election Commission protests?
Kumaraswamy alleged that Rahul Gandhi and Congress are staging 'drama' over the SIR to defame the Election Commissioner and divert attention from PM Modi's governance. He said the issue should be left to the poll panel and questioned why the Leader of Opposition was personally involved.
What did opposition parties do at Mallikarjun Kharge's residence?
Opposition parties met at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence to discuss a letter seeking an appointment with the Election Commission regarding the SIR. Kumaraswamy dismissed this as unnecessarily prolonging an issue the parties 'want to keep alive.'
What did Kumaraswamy say about PM Modi's 25 years in public life?
Kumaraswamy congratulated PM Modi on completing 25 years in public life, saying he had worked continuously with a vision for national development and that he was moving 'very strongly' despite political disruptions from the opposition.
What is the political context of Kumaraswamy's remarks in Karnataka?
The Congress party leads the state government in Karnataka, while Kumaraswamy's JD(S) is allied with the BJP at the Centre. His remarks, made at JD(S) headquarters in Bengaluru, come amid ongoing state-Centre political friction and ahead of an expected period of heightened electoral competition.
