Ram Madhav Accuses Congress of Fueling Anarchy Over Electoral Roll Revision
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ram Madhav launched a strong critique against the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi during a one-day visit to Jammu on November 2. Addressing a press conference at the party office, Madhav accused the opposition of spreading false propaganda regarding the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Madhav alleged that having repeatedly lost elections to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress leadership is seeking to trigger a non-democratic, "Bangladesh- or Nepal-style regime change" by inciting street turmoil and undermining public trust in institutions. Pointing to a recent opposition rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, he claimed the campaign is designed to erode faith in public systems.
"Their leaders are clearly saying on TV and on social media that they want to do a Bangladesh-style or Nepal-style regime change. If possible, they will want to topple the government through that anarchy," Madhav said. He added that the opposition aims to capture power through an uprising rather than through democratic contests.
Clarification on Electoral Roll Deletions and Re-enrollment
Defending the Special Intensive Revision, the BJP Vice President emphasized that the exercise is a routine constitutional process. He countered Congress allegations that the names of 13 crore voters had been improperly removed, stating that the opposition's claims are completely false and lack complainants coming forward.
Explaining the reasons behind deletions from voter lists, Madhav pointed out that roughly 90 lakh people die in India every year, making regular updates necessary to remove deceased voters over multi-decade periods. He also highlighted population migration, noting that citizens moving between regions may have duplicate entries that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) must verify and update.
Madhav stated that around 6 crore removed names belonged to individuals who had relocated elsewhere. For another one to two crore names under review, door-to-door verification by BLOs is underway. He noted that eligible citizens omitted due to errors can re-enroll using Form 6 or Form 8. Furthermore, he highlighted that 2.5 crore new voters were added over the last 10 years, disproving claims that the revision targets genuine voters.
Infiltration Concerns and Historical Misconduct Allegations
During the press conference, Madhav noted that the revision helps identify non-citizens who entered India illegally, including Rohingyas settled in Jammu, questioning whether Congress believes illegal infiltrators should retain voting rights.
Madhav also criticized Congress's historic track record regarding elections, citing the Allahabad High Court judgment against former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for misusing official machinery, which led to the imposition of Emergency. He further alleged that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah manipulated the 1987 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, triggering subsequent regional unrest.
Opposition to EVMs and BJP's Nationwide Counter-Campaign
Addressing Congress’s repeated criticism of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Madhav stated the party is using allegations against EVMs and the Election Commission to mask its own political failures. He pointed out that Congress lost 56 out of all Assembly elections conducted between 2014 and 2024, alongside three consecutive parliamentary elections in 2014, 2019, and 2024.
To refute claims demanding a return to paper ballots, Madhav cited recent municipal and legislative council elections. In the Silchar corporation election in Assam, Congress won only two of 42 wards. Similarly, in recent Legislative Council (MLC) elections conducted via ballot paper across 28 seats, the BJP and its allies won 16 seats—with the BJP taking 13—while Congress secured only one seat.
Madhav criticized the opposition for refusing to participate in parliamentary debates on the matter despite government invitations, choosing instead to spread misinformation. In response, he announced that the BJP will launch a month-long outreach campaign covering 5 lakh villages to inform 100 crore voters about the true nature of the SIR process and counter the opposition's allegations.
