Amit Shah Targets Rahul Gandhi, Congress Over Electoral Defeats After Gujarat Civic Polls

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress on Tuesday, accusing the party of blaming electoral processes for its repeated defeats instead of examining its political shortcomings.

Following the BJP’s strong performance in Gujarat’s civic elections, Shah questioned whether the Congress would attribute its latest setback to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He further asserted that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would return to power under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

The Home Minister highlighted the BJP’s victory in 38 of the 44 seats in the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation. He said the party had retained control of the Thara and Okha municipalities, while its vote share in Gandhinagar had risen by 10 percentage points.

Shah questioned the Congress’s electoral record in Gujarat, saying it had not won the state since 1985. He claimed that Aam Aadmi Party candidates forfeited their deposits in all 32 seats contested in the civic polls.

The Minister cited electoral outcomes in several states to support his criticism of the Congress. He said the party failed to win seats in by-elections in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry. He further referred to the BJP’s performance in Assam and West Bengal, alongside the NDA’s victories in Puducherry.

Shah claimed that the BJP secured 90 per cent of Municipal Corporation seats, 66 per cent of Municipal Council seats and 65 per cent of Municipal Board seats in Rajasthan’s local elections.

Referring to Tripura’s Gram Samiti elections, Shah said the NDA won around 4,000 of the 4,600 seats. He noted that the polls used ballot boxes and questioned the Congress’s criticism of electoral credibility following defeats.

The Minister criticised Gandhi’s efforts to unite Opposition parties, arguing that mobilising workers from 14 parties and gathering a crowd did not automatically make someone the voice of the country.

“The voice of the country is in its villages, fields, forests and far-flung areas,” Shah said.

On SIR, the Minister alleged that the Congress was opposing the revision to protect infiltrators rather than genuine voters. He argued that the exercise began after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Shah urged Gandhi to examine the party’s record instead of blaming electoral institutions.

Shah’s remarks came during the ongoing political dispute over voter-list revision. The Congress has also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

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