BJP Rebuts Rahul Gandhi's EC Allegations, Cites Poll Panel Statement on SIR

The BJP on Saturday rejected as "baseless" the allegations levelled by Opposition parties, particularly Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, against the Election Commission, and demanded that the Leader of the Opposition explain what the party described as a false claim.

The reaction came after the Election Commission issued a statement addressing several concerns raised by two of its commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. The poll panel held its first meeting since reports emerged that the two commissioners had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over ten months, questioning Special Intensive Revision (SIR) decisions taken without their knowledge and pointing to gaps in the process.

Welcoming the statement, former Union Minister and BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Commission had made clear that all decisions relating to the SIR were taken with the concurrence of the Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners. He noted that the exercise began across states and Union Territories on 24 June 2025, starting with Bihar and West Bengal before moving to 30 other states.

Prasad said the Commission had specifically pointed out that the Supreme Court had upheld all matters related to the SIR as valid and permissible. He asked why the Opposition continued to dispute the process when it was Congress, the CPM and the TMC that had approached the Supreme Court against it, only for the court to call the SIR acceptable.

"We condemn the baseless and unfortunate allegations that Opposition parties, especially Congress, and especially Rahul Gandhi are levelling against the Election Commission," Prasad said, adding that some had gone as far as demanding arrests and an FIR.

He said the Commission's note also made clear that Form 6 had been approved by the Supreme Court despite the controversy surrounding it. The SIR, he added, is provided for under the Representation of the People Acts of 1950 and 1951, and similar revisions have been carried out in the past. Under Article 324 of the Constitution, he said, the Election Commission has the sole authority to conduct and complete the entire electoral process.

Calling Gandhi a "non-serious politician", Prasad said the language used by him was condemnable and that the public does not take him seriously. He claimed that for perhaps the first time in the country's history, the Commission had to issue a detailed clarification because of what he termed false propaganda, with the CEC and both commissioners sitting together to take the decision.

Prasad also accused the Opposition of inconsistency, pointing out that Congress had won elections in Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana without raising questions about the Commission, voter lists or EVMs. He said the party creates a ruckus only when it loses.

Urging the Opposition to focus on electoral work, he said the BJP's message was that rivals should go among the people, work hard and win elections. He also underlined that no one would be deprived of the right to vote.