BJP's Poonia accuses Rahul Gandhi of backing ECI protests via foreign funds
Synopsis
BJP's Satish Poonia has levelled a pointed allegation against the Congress-led INDIA Bloc — that its protests against the Election Commission are being orchestrated through foreign funding. The charge, invoking remarks by former Solicitor General Harish Salve, escalates a row already heading to the Supreme Court, and frames the electoral roll dispute as something far more combustible than a routine administrative disagreement.
Key Takeaways
BJP National General Secretary Satish Poonia on 13 October 2026 alleged that Congress -led protests against the ECI are being organised through foreign funding.
The INDIA Bloc marched to the Supreme Court on Monday to petition for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR electoral roll revision controversy.
Poonia challenged the Congress to show records of formal ECI engagement — objections, booth visits, or meetings — since 2014 .
He cited remarks by former Solicitor General Harish Salve , who warned of external forces stoking unrest similar to events in Nepal and Bangladesh .
The foreign funding claim was not supported by documentary evidence; the Congress had not formally responded at the time of reporting.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Satish Poonia on Tuesday, 13 October sharply criticised Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI), and alleged that Congress-led protests were being funded from abroad. The remarks came a day after the INDIA Bloc marched towards the Supreme Court to file a petition demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Background: The Electoral Roll Row
Opposition leaders have alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise, raising alarms over a large-scale deletion of voters from the draft electoral rolls. The Congress and its allies contend that the revision process is being misused to disenfranchise voters. The BJP, on the other hand, has defended the ECI's process and accused the opposition of manufacturing a political controversy around a routine administrative exercise.
What Poonia Said
Speaking to reporters, Poonia questioned the political advice Rahul Gandhi receives, invoking the long history of Indian elections. 'Who advises Rahul Gandhi politically? Elections have been held in the country since 1952. There was a time when we used to hear election news on the radio and witness the extent of violence on TV,' he said. He maintained that the electoral process had grown more organised and transparent over the decades, and that the Election Commission routinely invites all political parties to participate in the preparation and review of voter lists before publication.
Poonia challenged the Congress to produce any documented record of its representatives raising formal objections with the ECI, visiting polling booths, or attending poll body meetings between 2014 and the present. 'Is there any record from 2014 to the present showing a Congress representative lodging an objection with the Election Commission, visiting a polling booth, or participating in an Election Commission meeting? This is merely an attempt to fabricate a false narrative,' he alleged.
The Foreign Funding Allegation
Poonia also cited remarks by senior advocate and former Solicitor General of India Harish Salve, who had expressed concern in an interview over attempts to replicate in India the kind of civil unrest witnessed in Nepal and Bangladesh, suggesting that external forces could be fomenting instability. Reacting to those concerns, Poonia alleged: 'Harish Salve, a respected citizen of the nation, has said this... This shows that such protests are being organised in the country through foreign funding.' The claim was not accompanied by documentary evidence, and the Congress has not yet formally responded to the allegation.
Broader Stakes
The escalating rhetoric over the SIR controversy places the ECI's independence at the centre of a sharp political battle. Notably, this is not the first time the Election Commission has faced opposition demands for accountability; however, allegations of foreign funding in domestic protest movements represent a significant escalation in the BJP's counter-narrative. How the Supreme Court responds to the INDIA Bloc's petition could determine the next flashpoint in this standoff.
Point of View
It weakens the urgency of its current alarm. Yet the SIR deletion numbers that triggered the INDIA Bloc's petition have not been independently audited, which means both sides are operating in an evidential vacuum. The Supreme Court's handling of the petition will either validate institutional trust in the ECI or force a transparency reckoning that neither party seems fully prepared for.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) controversy involving the ECI?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to review and update electoral rolls. Opposition parties have alleged that the process led to irregular deletions of a large number of voters from draft rolls, prompting the INDIA Bloc to approach the Supreme Court.
Why did BJP's Satish Poonia allege foreign funding in the Congress protests?
Poonia cited remarks by former Solicitor General Harish Salve, who had expressed concern that external forces may be attempting to engineer civil unrest in India similar to events in Nepal and Bangladesh. Poonia linked those concerns to the Congress-led agitation against the ECI, though he did not provide documentary evidence for the allegation.
What did the INDIA Bloc petition the Supreme Court about?
The INDIA Bloc filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the controversy surrounding the SIR electoral roll revision. Opposition leaders allege the process involved irregular mass deletions of voters from the draft rolls.
What challenge did Poonia issue to the Congress over its ECI engagement?
Poonia challenged the Congress to produce records — from 2014 to the present — showing that its representatives formally raised objections with the ECI, visited polling booths, or attended meetings with the poll body. He argued the absence of such records exposes the party's current protests as politically motivated.
Has the Congress responded to the foreign funding allegation?
At the time of reporting, the Congress had not issued a formal response to Poonia's allegation that its protests were being organised through foreign funding. The claim remains unsubstantiated by documentary evidence.
