BJP Targets Rahul Gandhi and Congress as Poll Panel Dismisses Voter List Rift

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a sharp attack on the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, asserting that a formal clarification from the Election Commission of India (EC) thoroughly dismantled the opposition’s claims regarding internal discord over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

Addressing the media, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad characterized the opposition’s charges as baseless and politically motivated, stating that recent media accounts alleging deep internal friction within the poll panel were factually inaccurate.

Election Commission’s Rebuttal

The controversy followed reports claiming that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections numerous times concerning decisions made during the nationwide SIR rollout by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

In a statement issued with the consensus of the full bench, the EC refuted suggestions of institutional division:

• Consensus on Roll Revision: All orders regarding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls were finalized with the approval of all three commissioners.
• Form 6 Revisions: Updates to Form 6, utilized for voter roll enrollments, have already received judicial validation from the Supreme Court of India.
• Internal Inquiries: Communications directed to the Cabinet Secretary by the two commissioners concerned administrative issues regarding an officer on deputation, rather than structural policy matters or the jurisdiction of the Commission’s IT department.
• Administrative Status: Proposed reallocations of work by the deputed officer were suspended following internal interventions, ensuring continuous oversight of the IT division by the Deputy Election Commissioner.

Political Reactions and Counter-Claims

Prasad argued that the opposition routinely shifts blame to constitutional bodies when facing electoral setbacks:

• Double Standards on Democratic Bodies: The BJP argued that Congress relies on EVMs, electoral rolls, and institutional transparency only when victorious, while questioning their credibility following defeats.
• Economic Milestones: Crediting the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sustained economic momentum—including recognized growth benchmarks of 7.8 percent—Prasad urged opposition parties to earn voter confidence through programmatic work rather than scapegoating institutions.
• Tensions Within Opposition Ranks: Touching upon the INDIA bloc’s planned strategic meetings, Prasad questioned the coalition’s internal unity, highlighting reported political friction between the Samajwadi Party and Congress in Uttar Pradesh.
• Impeachment Speculation: Regarding potential moves by the opposition to seek impeachment proceedings against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Prasad noted that such procedures rest under the discretion of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, reiterating that the underlying premise lacks factual foundation.