Chandigarh, September 28, 2026: Senior BJP leader, former Chandigarh BJP President and BJP National Council member Sanjay Tandon today criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying that instead of introspecting over the party’s repeated electoral setbacks, he continues to blame the Election Commission and other democratic institutions.
Sanjay Tandon said this while addressing the media along with Mayor Saurabh Joshi. State Media In-charge Ravi Rawat and spokesperson Gurpreet Dhillon were also present. Councillors Rajinder Sharma and Kanwar Rana too participated in the press meet.
Tandon said the saying “Naach na jaane, aangan teda” (one who does not know how to dance blames the floor) aptly describes Rahul Gandhi’s approach. He said, “Whenever questions are raised about the Congress’ poor electoral performance, Rahul Gandhi shifts the issue towards the Election Commission and the electoral process. The Congress should ask itself why it is repeatedly losing the confidence of voters.”
He said the same electoral system has produced victories for different political parties. Tandon said, “The Congress has won elections in Karnataka, Kerala and Himachal Pradesh, while the Aam Aadmi Party has won in Punjab and Delhi, and the TMC has repeatedly won in West Bengal. When opposition political parties win in assembly elections, EVMs and the electoral system are acceptable, but when they lose, questions are raised. This double standard needs to end.”
On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Tandon said that revision of electoral rolls is a regular democratic exercise aimed at maintaining accurate and credible voter lists. He said, “SIR has been undertaken at different points of time. Instead of opposing an exercise aimed at ensuring that eligible voters are included and ineligible entries are removed, the Congress should participate constructively.”
Tandon alleged that Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly questioned India’s electoral and parliamentary institutions on domestic as well as international platforms. He said, “Political parties have every right to question the government, but allegations against constitutional institutions must be backed by facts. Repeatedly casting doubts on India’s democratic institutions does not strengthen democracy.”
Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s 2019 “Chowkidar chor hai” remark, Tandon said Gandhi had subsequently expressed regret over attributing the statement to the Supreme Court. He said, “The pattern of making serious allegations and subsequently withdrawing or qualifying them raises questions about the responsibility expected from a senior political leader.”
Tandon said the Congress should focus on strengthening its organisation and reconnecting with voters instead of blaming the system for its electoral setbacks. He said, “Parliament is meant for reasoned debate, evidence and policy alternatives, not theatrics. Questioning institutions whenever the political outcome is unfavourable cannot substitute for introspection.”
Tandon further said the Congress also needs to come to terms with the changing social and political realities of India. He said, “The Congress appears unable to accept the fact that a person who rose from the humble background of a chaiwala went on to become the Prime Minister of the country through the democratic process. The party must move beyond the mindset that political power is the preserve or fiefdom of the Gandhi family and recognise that in a democracy, it is the people who decide who will lead the country.”
Mayor Saurabh Joshi said, “Congress is repeatedly raising questions over the SIR in an attempt to create confusion, whereas the entire process in Chandigarh has been carried out transparently. The draft electoral roll had 4,50,282 voters, which increased to 4,60,209 in the final electoral roll. This clearly shows that the number of voters did not decrease after the SIR; rather, it increased.”
Joshi said, “Before questioning the Election Commission’s process, Congress should look at the facts and figures. At the same time, Congress should also answer for the promises made to the people of Chandigarh through its guarantee card during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Repeating something again and again does not make it true. The people of Chandigarh are aware and know how to hold political parties accountable for their promises and performance.”
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