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Smriti Irani accused Rahul Gandhi and the Opposition of seeking “regime change” through protests and said any change in government must come through elections.
BJP general secretary and former Union minister Smriti Irani; Congress leader Rahul Gandhi
BJP general secretary and former Union minister Smriti Irani has criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his campaign against the Election Commission of India (ECI), saying that any change in government must come through elections. In an interview with a news outlet, Irani described Gandhi as an “unelectable prince” who hopes to become an emperor and accused him of trying to create political unrest through protests.
Irani also targeted advocate Prashant Bhushan and other Opposition leaders over their recent references to “regime change”. She said people seeking a change of government must go to voters rather than attempt to achieve it through protests.
“The only way you can change a government in this country is through an election. You cannot take away the rights of 90 crore Indians in this country, just because Prashant Bhushan woke up and said, ‘I want a regime change’. That will not happen,” she said.
The BJP leader questioned the manner in which some Opposition protests were conducted. She asked whether criticism of the Prime Minister or the Army, as well as alleged confrontations involving police personnel, could be described as democratic protest.
“Fight an election. That is a democratic way,” Irani said.
Irani Questions Rahul Gandhi’s ECI Allegations
Irani also challenged Gandhi’s allegations of electoral irregularities, claiming that he had acknowledged during a recent interaction with journalists that he did not have proof to support his claims against the Election Commission.
She defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, claiming that 90 per cent of the country’s 90 crore voters had been verified. She also pointed to the involvement of nearly 20 lakh booth-level agents in the exercise.
“Is Rahul Gandhi of the position that his own workers are lying?” she asked, arguing that representatives of political parties participate in voter verification, polling and counting.
Irani further questioned objections to updating electoral rolls, particularly in cases where voters had shifted between cities. She said voters whose names were missing from the rolls could approach the Election Commission, with booth-level agents helping them complete the required forms.
‘Vote chori’ Is ‘Headline-Chasing’, Says Irani
Irani dismissed the Opposition’s “vote chori” allegations, saying the phrase was being used for political publicity.
She cited Kerala and other states while questioning the Opposition’s position on SIR and said political parties had themselves participated in the electoral process.
Asked what she believed the ongoing Opposition agitation was ultimately seeking, Irani said, “Regime change. That’s what his comrades have said today.”
She accused Gandhi and his allies of attempting to create chaos and portray themselves as political victims instead of seeking public support through elections.
“Those who cannot win a democratically held election in our country want to create deliberate chaos so that they can play political victims,” she said.
About the Author
Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can …Read More
October 15, 2026, 22:41 IST
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