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COVER STORY NOVEMBER 06, 2026 | The Indian Eye 5

ers in Chandni Chowk, he sought to resignation is therefore necessary to
place the political debate around the restore the credibility and indepen-
leadership of Prime Minister Naren- dence of the Election Commission,”
dra Modi and accused the Congress the group said.
of weakening democratic institutions CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke
through its criticism of the govern- has sought to frame the agitation
ment. as a movement to protect univer-
“Democracy is in safe hands. sal adult franchise, arguing that the
The trust of democracy in public lies Constitution’s promise was to ex-
in PM Modi. If democracy is in the pand democratic participation rath-
hands of PM Narendra Modi, then er than restrict it. “The idea was
democracy is absolutely safe,” Nabin simple: bring more citizens into de-
said. mocracy, not keep them out of it,”
He added that the country’s 140 the group said, invoking the vision of
crore people were part of the Prime B.R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru
Minister’s political family, describing and other members of the Constit-
Modi as “the son of the soil of the uent Assembly. Dipke announced
country”. the group’s support for the INDIA
The BJP president also targeted bloc rally with the slogan, “Gyanu
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, al- must go! The Cockroach Janta Par-
leging that he did not care about the ty extends its support to the INDIA
Constitution. He claimed that the Bloc’s November 1 rally. Nation
Congress was losing ground by plac- above all!” The movement’s backing
ing its trust in Gandhi and warned gives the anti-SIR campaign an addi-
that the party could be wiped out if it tional platform outside established
continued to follow him. political parties, adding to the BJP’s
The remarks underline the BJP’s challenge of containing the contro-
attempt to shift the debate from al- Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi addresses a public rally (AICC/ANI Photo) versy through its own organizational
legations concerning the Election outreach.
Commission to a broader political strategy. Local leadership, alliances (CJP), a youth-led protest move- The SIR controversy could re-
contest over leadership, governance and issues affecting voters will be im- ment that has emerged as a vocal main part of this wider political con-
and the Opposition’s credibility. By portant in shaping its campaign. The critic of the Election Commission’s test. The Opposition is attempting to
presenting Modi as the guarantor October 29 meeting, however, did handling of SIR. The group has ex- frame the revision exercise as a ques-
of democratic stability, the party is not announce any specific decisions tended support to the INDIA bloc’s tion of voting rights and institutional
seeking to counter the INDIA bloc’s concerning Punjab or outline a de- November 1 rally and demanded accountability. The BJP, in turn, is
attempt to make SIR a national po- tailed state-wise electoral plan. the resignation of Chief Election seeking to portray the protests as an
litical issue. Other states going to the polls Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. In attempt to create political instability
But the Opposition’s street mo- in 2027 will also require the party a statement, the CJP accused the and undermine public confidence in
bilization presents a challenge that to balance national messaging with government of reversing the basic the electoral process.
cannot be addressed through state- local political priorities. The BJP’s principle of democracy, alleging Nabin’s remarks in Delhi reflect
ments alone. The November 1 rally challenge will be to coordinate its that SIR was allowing the govern- this approach. By insisting that de-
will test whether the INDIA bloc can central leadership and state organi- ment to choose its voters rather mocracy is safe under Modi and at-
maintain a common position on elec- zations while identifying the issues than voters choosing their govern- tacking the Congress leadership, the
toral issues and attract public partic- that will determine electoral contests ment. “By undermining this very BJP is trying to move the political
ipation beyond its existing political in each state. principle through SIR, Gyanesh discussion away from the Opposi-
support base. For the BJP, the prior- The BJP is also facing pressure Kumar has lost the trust required to tion’s allegations and towards its own
ity is to prevent the controversy from from the Cockroach Janta Party oversee free and fair elections. His narrative of stability and national
becoming a sustained campaign that leadership.
could influence political sentiment The coming months will show
ahead of the 2027 elections. whether the party can convert its
Uttar Pradesh will be central to early organizational mobilization
the BJP’s preparations. The state is into a coherent electoral strategy. It
crucial to the party’s national politi- must simultaneously manage the SIR
cal position, and the 2027 Assembly controversy, respond to Opposition
election will be an important test protests and prepare for elections
of its ability to retain its support in states with very different political
base and maintain organizational realities.
strength. The early discussions at the The October 29 meetings offer
national level suggest that the leader- an early indication of the BJP’s prior-
ship wants state election preparations ities: defend its position on electoral
to proceed alongside its response to issues, intensify outreach and begin
current political challenges. preparing its organization for 2027.
Punjab presents a different set of The larger test will be whether this
electoral calculations. The BJP can- national strategy can translate into
not simply replicate its approach in state-level political support, partic-
Uttar Pradesh, given the state’s dis- CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka come out of Tihar Jail after the SEM Court ularly in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab,
tinct political landscape and the need ordered their release in New Delhi (ANI Video Grab) where the party will face distinct
for a state-specific organizational electoral challenges.

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