What BJP is doing to blunt Opposition's 'vote chori' charge

As the Congress-led Opposition and Cockroach Janata Party step up its attack against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Bharatiya Janata Party has rolled out its own campaign alongside several other measures to challenge the protests. The BJP has planned nationwide padyatras, public meetings, press conferences, youth interactions, student debates, essay competitions, social media campaigns and door-to-door outreach to counter Opposition protests and explain its position on the SIR exercise.

Recently, the INDIA bloc called for the BJP's ouster from power over the 'vote chori' charge, with Rahul Gandhi asserting that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will be removed and sent to jail for treason in future and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will not be allowed to escape the law either.

Also Read: INDIA bloc anti-SIR rally march kicks off as thousands gather at Ramlila Maidan; 4,000 cops, 200 cameras deployed

Padayatra formula to counter Oppn, CJP

The BJP has stepped up its nationwide 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' campaign, deploying senior leaders to lead padyatras across several states as it seeks to counter the Opposition's protests and allegations over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin will lead two major padyatras in Bihar and West Bengal on Monday as part of the campaign. According to an official party statement, the initiative is aimed at countering what the BJP describes as misinformation, disinformation and attempts by the Opposition to spread anarchy. The party has asked its workers to reach villages and households to challenge the Opposition's claims and present its version of the SIR exercise.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will also undertake a padyatra in Hyderabad on Monday as part of the Telangana BJP's campaign against what it calls the Congress's misleading narrative on SIR. The march will begin at the Babu Jagjivan Ram statue in Basheerbagh and conclude at Mozamjahi Market.

BJP plans week-long padyatras across Uttar Pradesh

In poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has planned a week-long series of padyatras covering all six organisational regions of the state. Several senior leaders, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union ministers JP Nadda and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, will lead the marches.

The programme will begin on November 3, where Chouhan will lead a march in Lucknow's Awadh region and Nadda will oversee a padyatra in Bareilly's Braj region.

On November 4, Nabin will lead the march in Gorakhpur, while Maurya will head the padyatra in Prayagraj's Kashi region. On November 5, Adityanath will lead a march in Ghaziabad, while Pathak will oversee the Kanpur-Bundelkhand region's padyatra in Kanpur.

BJP takes padyatra campaign to Haryana

The BJP had also conducted marches in Haryana, with Nabin leading a padyatra in Rohtak and former Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan participating in a similar programme in Faridabad.

Haryana's choice is significant because the state shares borders with Delhi on three sides and was a key base for the Congress-led Opposition's recent march to the Supreme Court over the SIR issue. Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda played an important role in bringing supporters together for the protest.

By deploying senior leaders in Rohtak and Faridabad around the INDIA bloc's rally in Delhi, the BJP is seeking to counter the Opposition's street mobilisation with its own campaign.

BJP's month-long campaign against Opposition protests

The 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' campaign began on October 22 and is being conducted in two phases. The first phase will conclude on November 5, while the second is scheduled to run from November 11 to November 30.

Nabin reviewed the party's political response to the Opposition's campaign against SIR at the BJP headquarters on Thursday. The meeting was attended by party general secretaries and Union ministers, with discussions focusing on the Opposition's sustained protests and the BJP's counterstrategy.

Inside BJP's stratedy

BJP has drawn up a nationwide campaign to counter opposition protests over electoral roll revision and what it calls misinformation, reprted TOI by citing an internal party document.

According to the TOI report, the first phase of the campaign, which was to start on October 22, will run until November 5. The BJP will highlight what it describes as contradictory positions adopted by Opposition parties on electoral rolls when in government and in opposition. It will also explain the Election Commission's procedures and present its position on the SIR exercise.

Youth outreach and public mobilisation

The BJP plans to organise targeted interactions with young people, public meetings, marches, press conferences and intellectual discussions to counter Opposition protests over the SIR exercise.

The party plans to hold 2,000 meetings targeting nearly 10 lakh youngsters. It has also asked functionaries to mobilise at least 10,000 people for district-level marches.

Social media campaign and public outreach

Social media influencers, cultural figures and other opinion makers will participate in the campaign. The party will also distribute pamphlets and handbooks explaining the electoral roll revision process, while banners, placards and speeches will target the Opposition over issues including illegal infiltration and its position on government policies, reported TOI.

Also Read: Senior BJP leaders to hold padyatras in election-bound UP before Diwali

INDIA bloc's Nov 1 rally

Hundreds of supporters gathered at Minto Road on Sunday as the INDIA bloc held its 'Chalo Dilli' mega march against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

The march began at the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction and proceeded towards Ramlila Maidan. It is part of the Opposition's nationwide campaign against alleged irregularities in the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. The massive gathering follows a public "impeachment" programme against the CEC held in the capital on October 31.

Among those who attended the rally were Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, JKNC president Farooq Abdullah, CPI leader D Raja, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

The INDIA bloc has alleged that the SIR exercise has led to the deletion of legitimate voters, especially those from marginalised, backward and minority communities. The Opposition has questioned the Election Commission's handling of the revision exercise and accused it of failing to ensure electoral integrity.

The opposition coalition alleges widespread, unverified deletions of legitimate voters—particularly from marginalised, backwards, and minority communities—under the Election Commission’s SIR of voter lists.

The coalition is asking for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The march follows a mock impeachment event held at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence on October 31.