Chouhan Says Opposition Spreading Lies as Regime Change Row Grows
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday accused the Opposition of spreading lies and rumours to incite people because it cannot win elections, as the BJP stepped up its attack over “regime change” remarks linked to the protests against the Chief Election Commissioner. Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, Chouhan targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, a day after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made similar charges in Lucknow.
What Chouhan and Rajnath Singh Said
“They were losing even before SIR and are still losing after SIR,” Chouhan said, referring to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. “The country will completely reject such negative people,” he said, according to ANI.
On Friday, Rajnath Singh accused the Congress and its sympathisers of seeking a “Bangladesh-type regime change in India”, The Tribune reported. He said the party had turned to advocating anarchy to avenge poll losses, and pointed to press conferences where senior advocate Prashant Bhushan and AISA president Neha Bora had referred to Bangladesh.
How the Congress Has Responded
Congress media head Pawan Khera said changing the government through elections is the Opposition’s aim, recalling former President Pranab Mukherjee’s remark that the Opposition’s task is to “oppose, expose and depose.” The party said it rejects any unconstitutional seizure of power and supports peaceful democratic mobilisation, constitutional institutions and free and fair elections.
The row stems from the ongoing agitation demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the voter list revision. Bhushan had described the agitation as a “fight for regime change”, a phrase the BJP has seized on. IPB News has explained why the Lehra Do Tiranga protests are being held and reported on the detentions in Delhi.
Why It Matters for Voters
At the heart of the dispute is the accuracy of voter lists, which decides whether eligible citizens can vote. Opposition parties and protest groups allege wrongful deletions during the revision, while the BJP says the protests aim to create unrest rather than address electoral reform.
For voters, the practical questions are whether their names remain on the rolls and how complaints are handled. With the Election Commission also announcing a fresh round of roll revisions in several states, the political exchange is likely to continue in the weeks ahead.
Based on reporting by Asianet Newsable and The Tribune, with background from The Tribune.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
