Rahul Gandhi hiding electoral defeat with baseless allegations: Anurag Thakur
Anurag Thakur accuses Rahul Gandhi of hiding electoral defeats with baseless allegations against the Election Commission following the SIR row.
BJP Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur has launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of using unfounded allegations against the Election Commission to mask political failures. The confrontation comes amidst an intensifying political battle regarding the Special Interim Review (SIR) of electoral rolls and the functioning of the poll body.
BJP Accuses Opposition of Misleading the Public
Speaking to reporters in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, Anurag Thakur asserted that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has already provided a comprehensive clarification that settles the ongoing dispute. He claimed that the Opposition is attempting to undermine the credibility of constitutional institutions without presenting any concrete evidence.
"Rahul Gandhi and some opposition leaders are trying to mislead the public and hide their electoral defeat with baseless allegations," Thakur stated. He further noted that these actions are a deliberate attempt to discredit the very institutions that uphold Indian democracy.
Support for Electoral Roll Review
The debate has centered on the SIR exercise, a process intended to review and correct electoral rolls. Defending the move, Uttar Pradesh Minister Danish Azad Ansari highlighted the transparency of the Commission's actions. He argued that the SIR is a positive step toward strengthening the democratic framework of the country.
Ansari suggested that the Congress leadership's sudden concern stems from a fear of public awareness. "The Election Commission has taken several positive and transparent steps to strengthen India's electoral process... I believe Rahul Gandhi is concerned because the public is aware and is not being misled," Ansari remarked.
Congress Demands Accountability and Resignation
The controversy gained momentum following reports suggesting that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised multiple objections regarding decisions and procedures linked to the SIR exercise. This has led several Opposition parties, including the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), Trinamool Congress, and Shiv Sena (UBT), to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Congress leader Rashid Alvi challenged the ECI's recent clarifications, demanding specific details regarding the objections raised over the last ten months. Alvi alleged that the Election Commission is operating under external pressure and control, questioning whether the dissenting notes sent to the CEC were indeed false.
The Election Commission's Stand
The Election Commission of India has firmly rejected all allegations of impropriety. The poll body maintains that every decision regarding the SIR schedule was reached through the unanimous approval of the Commission.
According to the ECI, the procedural timeline was as follows:
- October 27, 2025: The SIR schedule for 12 States and Union Territories was issued with unanimous consent.
- May 14, 2026: The schedule for 19 States and UTs was released following the same unanimous approval.
- June 24, 2025: The order for SIR covering all States and UTs was also approved by all members of the Commission.
The ECI has reiterated that the entire process has been conducted strictly in accordance with established legal and administrative procedures.