Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) chief Sam Pitroda on 12 November declared that he has 'lost trust in the election system in India', adding that many people in civil society share his concern about how votes are cast and counted. The remarks came in an interview in which Pitroda was asked about the Congress-led INDIA bloc's campaign against the voter-roll revision process of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

On the Election Commission and trust deficit

Responding to a question about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's repeated allegations of vote theft, Pitroda said the issue requires urgent public debate. 'Somebody has to bridge that trust deficit. Why, what, when, how needs to be discussed, debated,' he said, adding that several of his friends in civil society have raised similar concerns. He called it 'a very serious issue in democracy.'

The ECI has not yet responded to Pitroda's remarks. The INDIA bloc has in recent months intensified its criticism of the electoral rolls revision exercise, alleging irregularities — claims the Commission has consistently denied.

On Prime Minister Modi: 'No personal issues'

Asked about Sonia Gandhi's memoir describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'big orator', Pitroda offered a notably warm personal assessment while drawing a sharp distinction between the man and his ideology. 'He is a Gujarati friend. I respect him as a person,' Pitroda said, recalling visits to Modi's home in Gujarat. He added, 'I can disagree with Mr Modi, and I can also have dinner with him and have a laugh.' He acknowledged, however, that he holds objections to Modi's worldview and ideology, calling these 'issues with the idea, not the individual.'

On Sonia Gandhi's memoir and the Babri Masjid

Pitroda praised Sonia Gandhi's memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', describing it as 'a story of love, character, commitment to a nation' and commending her courage in leaving behind her language, culture, and family to build a life in India. He said he had not yet read the book but intended to, noting that writing a volume of its length is 'laborious' and deserves more than selective scrutiny.

On Sonia Gandhi's reported emotional reaction to the Babri Masjid demolition, Pitroda declined to offer a view, saying it was her personal experience and her book to write. When asked whether a Congress-led government would consider rebuilding the mosque, he was categorical: 'That's for the Congress party and the government and people of India to decide; who am I to decide that?'

On US midterm results, Maoism, and the anti-Sikh riots

Weighing in on the US midterm elections, Pitroda attributed the outcome to public discontent over the economy, ongoing wars, and what he described as an 'authoritarian attitude in decision-making.' He said young voters gravitated toward the Democrats seeking 'peace, employment, education, and security.' Asked whether the results carry a warning for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he deflected: 'It is up to them. They know what happened.'

On the BJP's claim of having ended Maoism, Pitroda offered a nuanced take, acknowledging that the movement's roots lie in grievances over economic exclusion, while firmly rejecting violence as a means of redress. 'Ideology is fine. We can sit across the table... But whenever you resort to violence, it makes no sense to me,' he said, drawing comparisons with conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and Afghanistan.

Asked about the Gandhi family's responsibility for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Pitroda dismissed the question, saying it makes little sense to relitigate events from over 40 years ago and urged a forward-looking national agenda instead. The remarks are likely to draw sharp criticism from opposition parties and Sikh community organisations.

As assembly elections approach in several states, Pitroda's wide-ranging remarks are set to amplify the Congress party's narrative on electoral integrity — while also handing the BJP fresh ammunition on older controversies.