The stand-off between the Congress and the BJP over alleged irregularities in the election process intensified on Tuesday with the ruling party demanding that the opposition leaders clarify whether they won their own elections through “vote chori”.
“The ECI in its statement said clearly that the SIR order was a completely unanimous decision passed by all three Election Commissioners on June 24, 2025. The decision has been legally validated and upheld by a Supreme Court judgement on May 27, 2026,” he said. “I have just been shown that BJP-backed candidates have won in 11 Himachal district councils. Now, look at this: BJP-backed candidates have won in 11 Himachal district councils.
The BJP accused the Congress party, and the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, of levelling false allegations against the Election Commission of India and the process followed for Special Intensive Revision (SIR). This has just happened. How did this happen? These elections were held through ballot papers, right?… We have been hearing about the so-called rally and march. For the past few days, misconceptions and fake news have been spread regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)…”
Patra said Gandhi’s accusations that the poll panel and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar were involved in “vote chori” and making “illegal and unilateral” changes to voter registration Form 6 are unfounded and an attempt to create “anarchy”. In a post on X, Gandhi said it is now established beyond doubt that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar changed Form 6 “illegally and unilaterally”, and asserted that the CEC, as well as everyone else involved in this “criminal assault on democracy”, will be held accountable. The elections to these district councils, as I told you about the elections in Tripura, are conducted through ballot papers.
Before their rally takes place, it is our responsibility as a political party to accurately place the issue before the people of the country and explain what is happening in the Election Commission and what is happening in the entire matter before the Supreme Court. The BJP, which has been accusing the Congress of trying to create distrust in public institutions and constitutional bodies, on Tuesday accused the grand old party of trying to create anarchy. On the Opposition’s rally against the poll panel irregularities, Patra said, “We believe that even today, the Congress party is going to attempt to create an atmosphere of anarchy in the country by using the Election Commission.
