BJP's Sambit Patra hits out at Rahul Gandhi over SIR row, accuses Congress of spreading 'anarchy'
Synopsis
BJP's Sambit Patra didn't just defend the electoral roll revision process — he turned the press conference in Bengaluru into a multi-front attack on Rahul Gandhi, questioning his parliamentary conduct, his data, his relationships within the INDIA bloc, and his treatment of Karnataka's own Chief Minister. The Congress has taken the SIR row to the Supreme Court, but the BJP is now fighting back loudly on the ground.
Key Takeaways
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra held a press conference at Jagannath Bhavan, Bengaluru on 5 November 2026 attacking the Congress over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Patra alleged Rahul Gandhi 'has no data, only creates ruckus' and rarely stays in Parliament long enough to debate.
He questioned the unity of the INDIA bloc, citing Gandhi's past remarks against Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee .
Patra defended the Election Commission of India , saying the ASDD category removals under SIR are routine and that displaced voters can apply for reinstatement.
He alleged nearly three crore voters were issued notices under SIR but many did not respond, and claimed illegal immigrants had been enrolled.
The Congress has already approached the Supreme Court challenging the SIR exercise.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson and Member of Parliament Sambit Patra on Thursday, 5 November 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Indian National Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi over the ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, accusing the opposition of deliberately engineering 'confusion' and 'anarchy' among citizens. Patra made the remarks at a press conference held at Jagannath Bhavan, the BJP state headquarters in Bengaluru, flanked by several senior party leaders.
Patra's Central Charge Against Rahul Gandhi
Speaking at length, Patra accused Rahul Gandhi of lacking facts and figures on the SIR exercise. 'Rahul Gandhi has no data, only creates ruckus. He does not know what is happening in the country, but goes to the streets and creates a commotion. At the same time, he wants to debate with Prime Minister Narendra Modi,' Patra said.
He alleged that Gandhi rarely remained in Parliament long enough to participate in substantive debates, moving in and out of the House within minutes. Patra claimed he had personally witnessed this conduct and challenged the Congress leader to engage in meaningful discussions instead of street protests.
INDIA Bloc Contradictions in Spotlight
Patra sought to highlight tensions within the opposition INDIA alliance, questioning whether Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were still aligned with Gandhi. He recalled that Gandhi had described Kejriwal as a friend while simultaneously accusing the AAP government in Punjab of corruption. He also alleged that Gandhi had, ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, predicted a BJP victory by citing corruption in the Banerjee-led government.
'Rahul Gandhi should clarify whether Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee are with him or not. His only job is to create disputes and anarchy,' Patra said.
Karnataka Angle: Jarkiholi Statement and Bogus Voting Allegations
Patra referenced a reported statement by Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi that there were no objections to the SIR exercise in Karnataka, and suggested Gandhi travel to the state and discuss the issue directly with the minister. He also raised the controversy over alleged bogus voting in the Western Graduates' Constituency election, in which a woman named Shilpa Badmannavar was accused of impersonating a Congress district president's wife to cast a vote. Patra demanded that Gandhi address these local concerns alongside broader objections to SIR.
He also alleged that Gandhi had publicly pushed aside Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar during a protest in Delhi, calling it an act of arrogance, and claimed Shivakumar had been visibly distressed by the treatment.
BJP's Defence of the Election Commission and SIR Process
Rejecting Congress allegations that the Election Commission of India (ECI) had become subservient to Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Patra said the BJP was making efforts to explain the functioning of constitutional institutions to the public. He said the removal of names under the Absent, Shifted, Dead and Duplicate (ASDD) category during SIR was a routine and legitimate exercise, and alleged that the Congress wanted deceased voters to remain on rolls to enable bogus voting.
He maintained that voters whose names had been incorrectly removed during SIR could apply for reinstatement and challenged the Congress to submit evidence of electoral fraud to the Election Commission or the Supreme Court if it possessed any. Patra alleged that nearly three crore voters had been issued notices under SIR but many had not responded, and further claimed that illegal immigrants including Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals had found their way onto electoral rolls.
Wider Allegations and BJP Leaders Present
Patra also criticised a student leader he identified as Neha Bora, president of the All India Students' Association, over alleged remarks linking incidents in Bangladesh to India's religious institutions, and accused both Gandhi and Bora of supporting illegal immigrants. He also raised recent increases in bus fares and milk prices in Karnataka as issues the Congress should address.
BJP Karnataka state president B.Y. Vijayendra, state general secretary and MLA V. Sunil Kumar, state general secretary Preetham Gowda, chief spokesperson Ashwathnarayan, and BJP Yuva Morcha state president and MLA Dheeraj Muniraju were present at the press conference. The Congress, which has already approached the Supreme Court challenging the SIR exercise, is yet to formally respond to Patra's specific allegations.
Point of View
But those arguments will need data and evidence to hold up. The BJP's counter-strategy — highlighting bloc contradictions and alleging illegal immigrant enrolment — is designed to put the Congress on the defensive on multiple flanks simultaneously, diluting the core ECI accountability debate that the opposition initially raised.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to update voter lists by removing names of deceased, absent, shifted, or duplicate voters under the ASDD category. The BJP has defended it as a routine constitutional process, while the Congress has challenged it in the Supreme Court, alleging it removes legitimate voters.
What did Sambit Patra say about Rahul Gandhi at the Bengaluru press conference?
Patra alleged that Rahul Gandhi 'has no data, only creates ruckus' and said Gandhi rarely stays in Parliament long enough to participate in debates. He also alleged Gandhi was attempting to spread 'anarchy' by protesting against the SIR exercise without providing evidence of electoral fraud.
Why did the BJP question the unity of the INDIA bloc?
Patra pointed to Gandhi's past statements criticising AAP's Punjab government despite calling Arvind Kejriwal his friend, and his alleged pre-election remarks about corruption in Mamata Banerjee's West Bengal government. He used these to question whether the INDIA bloc partners still trusted Gandhi.
What has the Congress done legally over the SIR controversy?
The Congress has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the SIR exercise, alleging that the process amounts to illegitimate removal of voter names. The BJP has countered by saying voters who are wrongly dropped can apply for reinstatement and has challenged the opposition to submit specific evidence of fraud.
Who else was present at Sambit Patra's press conference in Bengaluru?
BJP Karnataka state president B.Y. Vijayendra, state general secretary and MLA V. Sunil Kumar, state general secretary Preetham Gowda, chief spokesperson Ashwathnarayan, and BJP Yuva Morcha state president and MLA Dheeraj Muniraju attended the press conference at Jagannath Bhavan.
