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New Delhi, September 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The BJP on Thursday hit back at Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's remarks that anti-incumbency had “seemingly disappeared” in several states, with BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi accusing the Congress leader of lacking an understanding of Indian politics.
Rahul Gandhi had questioned how anti-incumbency, which he described as a recurring feature of Indian electoral politics, could seemingly disappear in states such as Haryana, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. He linked his concerns to allegations about the electoral process and the functioning of the Election Commission of India.
Responding to the remarks, Trivedi said anti-incumbency had instead been “very consistent and strong against the Congress”.
“He (Rahul Gandhi) stated that anti-incumbency is an established truth in this country and that this phenomenon has persisted since the BJP came to power. Politically speaking, Rahul Gandhi is devoid of wisdom and knowledge,” Trivedi said at a press conference.
Trivedi cited the Congress' electoral history in several states to challenge Gandhi's argument. He said the Congress had not returned to power in Tamil Nadu since 1967 and had remained out of power in West Bengal since 1977, while also pointing to the party's absence from power in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.
The BJP leader also contrasted the electoral environment of earlier decades with the present system, referring to booth capturing, ballot-box looting and violence during elections in parts of the country.
He said the Congress had “desperately struggled” to return to power since elections became more transparent and security arrangements and surveillance systems were strengthened.
Trivedi further argued that the Congress' dependence on allies in some constituencies demonstrated what he described as an anti-incumbency challenge within the party.
He cited Congress alliances with the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and the Indian Union Muslim League in Kerala, claiming that Congress leaders had benefited from such support in constituencies associated with the Gandhi family.
The BJP MP specifically referred to Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi's electoral contests in Raebareli and Amethi, as well as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's victory from Wayanad, while attributing those electoral successes to alliance support.
The remarks came as Rahul Gandhi intensified his criticism of the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. On Thursday, he demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and questioned what he described as the disappearance of anti-incumbency in several states.
The Election Commission has been the subject of political controversy over the SIR exercise, while the BJP and Congress have taken opposing positions on Gandhi's allegations. The ECI has also rejected reports suggesting that disagreements among its members amounted to a breakdown in its functioning.