The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its nationwide campaign against Opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, deploying party workers, senior leaders and Union ministers to mobilise public support.
Under the slogan “Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy”, the party is organising public outreach programmes, marches and digital campaigns across the country, from villages and district headquarters to state capitals. The campaign is particularly focused on poll-bound Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, where the BJP views the SIR controversy as a major political issue.
The party aims to challenge the Congress and other Opposition parties over their objections to the Election Commission of India’s voter-list revision exercise. BJP leaders have accused the Opposition of trying to protect questionable entries and prevent the removal of alleged fake voters. Opposition parties, meanwhile, have raised concerns about the process and its implications for voters’ rights.
The campaign has gained momentum following Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s street-level protests against SIR and his efforts to raise the issue through social media posts and reels. The BJP has responded by asking its leaders and workers to take the debate into Opposition strongholds and highlight what it describes as inconsistencies in the Opposition’s position.
BJP Leaders Lead March in Karnataka
As part of the campaign, BJP leaders and workers took out a march in Shivamogga, Karnataka, under the slogan “Save Democracy, End Anarchy”, targeting parties opposing the SIR exercise.
The march began at Ramanna Shreshthi Park and was led by Union Minister for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje, former minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, MLC C.T. Ravi and Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra.
After offering prayers at a Ganapathi temple, participants marched towards Allama Prabhu Park, raising slogans against the Congress and other parties opposing the revision exercise.
Addressing the gathering, Karandlaje accused the Congress of creating unrest by questioning the SIR process. She said electoral roll revisions had been conducted several times since 1952, including during Congress governments, and alleged that the party was opposing the exercise because it was taking place under the BJP government.
She also questioned Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the Election Commission of India, arguing that he had been part of the process to select the Chief Election Commissioner in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Karandlaje further accused the Congress of campaigning internationally to undermine India’s democratic institutions.
C.T. Ravi said the march was intended to safeguard democracy and alleged that the Congress had shifted its criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP to the Election Commission. He said constitutional institutions needed to remain strong to protect the democratic system.
Raghavendra described the march as an effort to raise awareness about what he called the Congress’s attempts to create unrest.
BJP district president N.K. Jagadish, legislators S.N. Channabasappa and Dhananjaya Sarji, among others, also took part.
BJP Sharpens Attack on Congress
The BJP’s campaign has also taken on a sharper tone following recent personal remarks by Congress leaders against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including comments by party president Mallikarjun Kharge about the Prime Minister’s father.
A senior BJP functionary said the remarks had given the party another opportunity to accuse the Opposition of relying on personal attacks instead of focusing on substantive issues.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reinforced the party’s position during a recent visit to Karnal, Haryana. He warned the Congress against what he described as declining standards of political discourse and said the BJP would respond in similar language if Rahul Gandhi continued with what he called “sadak-chhaap” politics.
