Union Home Minister Amit Shah has sharply responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent criticism of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and his demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. Shah dismissed Gandhi's claims, urging the Congress to prepare for a significant defeat in the upcoming 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Shah asserted that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is poised for a massive majority in the 2029 general elections, predicting it would be the Congress's fourth consecutive loss. He accused Gandhi of failing to connect with voters, relying instead on what he termed 'fabricated media events' and 'Jhooth Ki Goonj' (echo of lies) rather than genuine grassroots engagement.
Questioning Electoral Defeats
The Home Minister directly challenged Gandhi on the Congress party's long history of electoral losses in various states. Shah highlighted that the Congress has not secured a Chief Minister in Tripura for 33 years and has not won in Bengal for 54 years. He questioned, "I want to ask Shri Rahul Gandhi directly: is this the result of the SIR? The SIR only came into effect after 2024."
Shah emphasized that the Congress needs to better understand the concerns of people in villages, farming communities, and remote regions across the country.
Refuting EVM Allegations with Local Election Results
To counter allegations that electronic voting machines (EVMs) are responsible for BJP victories, Shah cited recent local body election results. He pointed to the BJP's strong performance in Rajasthan, where the party won 90% of municipal corporations, 66% of municipal councils, and 65% of municipalities.
In Tripura, Shah noted that the NDA secured approximately 4,000 seats in village committee elections, achieving a substantial vote share of 77.5%, while the Congress managed to win only 14 out of 4,600 seats. Shah specifically highlighted that these local elections were conducted using ballot papers, thereby refuting arguments that BJP wins are solely attributable to EVMs.
Allegations of Protecting Infiltrators
Escalating his attack, Shah accused Gandhi and the Congress of using their opposition to the SIR as a means to protect infiltrators. He stated, "I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that the people of this country have fully understood your strategy of shielding infiltrators under the guise of the SIR, and they will no longer fall for your ruses."
Shah concluded by thanking voters in Tripura, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bengal, and Assam for their support, affirming that their electoral choices reflect continued confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP, and the NDA.