Congress’s poor performance in ballot-based elections exposes contradictions in its claims: Sanjay Jaiswal

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Former Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and Member of Parliament Sanjay Jaiswal. File | Photo Credit: PTI

Former Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and Member of Parliament Sanjay Jaiswal alleged that, following its electoral defeats, the Opposition was now targeting constitutional institutions.

He also alleged that attempts were being made to spread misinformation about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and the electoral process to undermine public confidence in democracy, the Constitution, and the credibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Mr. Jaiswal was addressing a press conference organised in Patna on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) as part of the “Loktantra Bachao, Bheedtantra Hatao” (Save Democracy, Remove Mob Rule) campaign. He added that the results of the Legislative Council elections had exposed the contradictions of Congress’s claims.

Senior BJP leader and Arwal MLA Manoj Sharma and Bihar BJP State Media In-charge Danish Iqba were also present.

“Congress had long been demanding elections through ballot papers. However, elections to the Legislative Council are conducted through ballot papers under the preferential voting system. Despite this, Congress won only one of the 28 seats,”Mr. Jaiswal said.

Citing Karnataka as another example, Mr. Jaiswal further said, “Congress had also lost all four seats there. Under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, Congress was continuing to mislead the public and question constitutional institutions despite repeated electoral setbacks.”

Paschim Champaran BJP MP Mr. Jaiswal said that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was being conducted under the constitutional and legal framework and that the revision process has a long history dating back to 1950.

He pointed out that SIR had been conducted eight times previously, including seven occasions during Congress-led governments.

“The SIR exercise conducted in Bihar last year resulted in the correction of 47 lakh electoral entries, including those relating to deceased voters, people who had shifted elsewhere, and duplicate entries. Even after one, no affected individual had come forward to raise concerns about these corrections,”Mr. Jaiswal said.

Mr. Jaiswal further alleged that, under the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, instances of Bangladeshi nationals allegedly obtaining forged documents and being included in electoral rolls had become a matter of concern.

“Bangladeshi nationals apprehended at certain locations had reportedly been found carrying Aadhaar cards allegedly linked to South 24 Parganas. India is home to citizens belonging to all faiths. However, foreign nationals who do not meet the legal requirements for Indian citizenship cannot be granted voting rights,”Mr. Jaiswal said.

He added, “Raising doubts about the impartiality of the ECI without adequate evidence is not correct; they should substantiate their claims with facts. I will appeal to the people of Bihar to assess the issue objectively and not be influenced by misleading propaganda. Accurate electoral rolls are essential for strengthening democracy.”

Senior BJP leader and Arwal MLA Manoj Sharma said that the opposition was repeatedly attempting to cast doubt on constitutional institutions over issues including SIR. He described efforts to create an atmosphere of malicious and misleading propaganda against constitutional processes as irresponsible.

“The framers of the Constitution had established a multiparty democratic system based on the principle that every eligible citizen’s vote carries equal value. Article 324 of the Constitution vests the ECI with the responsibility for the superintendence, direction, and control of elections. The preparation and revision of electoral rolls were essential to ensuring transparent and impartial elections,”Mr. Sharma said.

Mr. Sharma added that the revision of electoral rolls was necessary to safeguard democratic transparency and ensure free and fair elections. He urged the opposition to cooperate with the established constitutional process rather than making allegations against constitutional institutions.

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