Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai targeted Rahul Gandhi and Congress over the SIR controversy. Citing the Election Commission's clarification, he demanded Rahul Gandhi to apologize to the Commission and the country.
Raipur: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai on Sunday targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the SIR controversy. During a press conference at the BJP state office, Sai said that according to the Election Commission, decisions related to SIR were taken with the consensus of the three election commissioners. He demanded an unconditional apology from Rahul Gandhi to the Election Commission and the country.
CM Sai's attack on Congress over SIR controversy
Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai held a press conference on Sunday at the BJP state office Kushabhau Thakre complex in Raipur. During this, he reacted to the allegations made by Congress and Rahul Gandhi on the Election Commission regarding SIR. Sai alleged that after the election defeat, Congress is raising questions on the credibility of constitutional institutions.
Citing the Election Commission's September 26 clarification, Say said the decisions related to SIR were taken by the consensus of all three members of the commission. The Election Commission had said on September 26 that the nationwide SIR order issued on June 24, 2025, had received the unanimous approval of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and both Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
Demand for apology from Rahul Gandhi
Sai said that after the clarification from the Election Commission, Rahul Gandhi and Congress should tender an unconditional apology to the country and the Election Commission on their allegations. He alleged that Congress has been raising questions on EVMs and the Election Commission after losing the elections.
The Chief Minister also said that Rahul Gandhi had apologized earlier also, but similar statements were repeated later. Sai accused Congress of defaming constitutional institutions. These comments are political allegations by the Chief Minister.
Congress's different stance on Election Commission's clarification
On September 26, the Election Commission had said that decisions related to SIR should be taken unanimously. The Commission also said that during the SIR, booth level officers will be able to visit the homes of people who have been issued notices regarding non-appearance of name map or other logical discrepancies. Hearings will be called only in exceptional circumstances and the facility of online hearings will be strengthened.
However, the Congress has not accepted the Election Commission's explanation and continues to raise questions about the Commission's impartiality and its functioning. In this way, the political dispute continues between BJP and Congress regarding SIR.
Sai also responded to the letter written to the Cabinet Secretary
In the press conference, the issue of the letter written to the Cabinet Secretary in the report of an English newspaper was also raised. On this, Sai said that the concerned letter was not related to SIR or any policy issue, but was a general administrative matter.
He said that the Election Commission is answerable to the President and hence the question of writing letters to the Cabinet Secretary on policy matters does not arise. The Election Commission has also clarified its stand regarding administrative matters and decisions of the Commission amid the SIR controversy.
Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, Minister Rajesh Aggarwal, MPs Santosh Pandey and Naveen Markandey were also present in the press conference. After the allegations regarding SIR and the clarification from the Election Commission, the political rhetoric between BJP and Congress has intensified.