Kiren Rijiju slams Mallikarjun Kharge over "illegal elections" claim, asks if Rahul Gandhi also "illegal MP"
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju hits back at Mallikarjun Kharge, questioning if Rahul Gandhi and Congress CMs are also illegal following Kharge's recent claims.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has launched a scathing attack on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, responding to the opposition leader's recent allegations regarding "illegal elections" in the country.
A War of Words Over Legitimacy
The political confrontation ignited after Kharge claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are "illegal" leaders. The Congress President further alleged that the current electoral processes are being manipulated and called for governments to be dissolved in favour of elections held through ballots. Kharge specifically pointed towards the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as a tool being used to destroy democracy.
Taking to the social media platform X, Rijiju did not hold back, accusing Kharge of undermining the very foundation of the nation. In a series of pointed questions, the Union Minister challenged the logic of the Congress President's stance.
Rijiju Questions Status of Rahul Gandhi and CMs
Rijiju's rebuttal focused on the implications of calling elected leaders "illegal." He questioned whether the Congress leadership itself would fall under such a definition if Kharge's logic were applied consistently. "Are you illegal MP Kharge ji? Is Rahul Gandhi ji an illegal MP?" Rijiju asked.
The Minister further extended his query to the various Congress-led state governments, asking:
- Are the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu illegal?
- Is the leadership in Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, J&K, Himachal Pradesh, or Jharkhand also illegal?
The Core of the Controversy: Electoral Rolls
The heated exchange is rooted in a broader national debate concerning the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The controversy gained momentum following reports that Election Commissioners had recorded various objections over a ten-month period regarding voter registration, technology systems, and voter deletions.
While the ECI has dismissed these reports, stating that such administrative queries and suggestions are standard practice during draft stages and that all final decisions are taken unanimously, the opposition remains unconvinced. The INDIA bloc is currently intensifying its campaign against the poll panel's handling of the rolls.
Opposition Escalates Protests
The political tension is not limited to verbal spats. The opposition has planned significant demonstrations, including a coordinated protest scheduled for October 6 and a massive rally in New Delhi on November 1.
In a show of unity, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray recently led a joint protest march toward the BMC headquarters. Their target was Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, as they raised serious questions regarding the functioning of the poll panel and the integrity of the SIR process.