The Opposition on Saturday (October 17, 2026) pushed back against the ruling party’s narrative that street protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were aimed at a Bangladesh-like regime change by creating anarchy.
The BJP has sought to portray the Opposition’s protests as an attempt to destabilise the elected government. “We are not on the streets to celebrate [Prime Minister] Narendra Modi’s birthday party. We are not facing lathis and going to jails to organise a party for Mr. Modi. We are here to seek regime change and our slogan is vote chor, gaddi chhor (vote thief, vacate the seat),” Mr. Modi was not an emperor who would rule the country forever. “If you [the BJP] are so large-hearted, why are you contesting [Assembly] elections in Punjab? You are contesting to effect a regime change. Else, declare that you will run a group to sing bhajans in Punjab or will not contest elections in States where you are not in power,” Mr.
Singh said in a video posted on his X account. The AAP leader said Mr. Singh said. Endorsing his stance on X, Derek O’Brien, who leads the Trinamool Congress in the Rajya Sabha, said: “Fellow Parliamentarian, always on point.”
“In a functional democracy, the Opposition seeks to replace the regime through institutional mechanisms such as free and fair elections, a free media, and the mobilisation of public opinion. This is a regime that seeks to defy public opinion and stay in power forever. The people of India will remove this regime from power,” Congress general secretary K. C. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has accused the Opposition of pursuing a politics of regime change, drawing parallels with the political upheaval in Bangladesh.
Venugopal said in a post on social media platform X.
