Nehru Stole Votes to Become PM: Sambit Patra Slams INDIA Bloc Over CEC 'Impeachment'
BJP MP Sambit Patra hits back at the INDIA bloc's symbolic impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar with claims about Nehru and Sardar Patel.
In a fiery political showdown, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra has launched a scathing counter-attack on the INDIA bloc following their "symbolic public impeachment" of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The confrontation escalated after the opposition held a mock impeachment ceremony at the residence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi.
A Historical Counter-Strike
During a press conference on October 31, 2026, Sambit Patra did not hold back, pivoting the conversation from the current electoral commission to the foundations of independent India. Patra alleged that the very first instance of "vote theft" in the country was orchestrated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
According to the BJP spokesperson, Nehru engineered a process to prevent Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel from becoming the Prime Minister. Patra asserted that Nehru became an "unelected Prime Minister" by bypassing the votes that had been cast in favor of Patel, claiming this historical event was a fact driven by the first member of the Gandhi family.
The Opposition's 'Mock Parliament'
The spark for this clash was a symbolic impeachment event chaired by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. The INDIA bloc's gathering, which had been delayed due to bad weather, resulted in a resolution listing six specific charges against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
These allegations, echoed by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, include claims that the CEC conspired to manipulate elections. Specifically, the opposition pointed to the deletion of 13.2 crore voter names and the modification of Form 6 without the necessary parliamentary approval.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor defended the unconventional move, explaining that the symbolic impeachment was necessary because formal motions submitted in Parliament were not admitted by the presiding officers.
The Battle Over Electoral Rolls
The tension is further heightened by the opposition's announcement of a "Chalo Dilli" rally at Ramlila Maidan, scheduled for November 1, 2026. The protest targets the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands the immediate resignation of the CEC.
However, Sambit Patra defended the Special Intensive Revision, arguing that the process is essential for cleaning up the voter lists. He claimed the exercise uncovered absurd discrepancies, citing examples such as couples listed as having 12 children within six years and impossible age gaps between parents and their offspring.
Patra accused the INDIA bloc of hypocrisy, noting that they are now opposing electoral roll revisions that are virtually identical to the processes carried out during previous Congress-led administrations.
The Election Commission's Stance
This is not the first time such accusations have surfaced. In 2025, the Election Commission dismissed similar "vote chori" (vote theft) allegations as baseless. At that time, the Commission had requested that anyone making such claims submit them under oath, in accordance with the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.