When you cannot convince people, confuse them: Fadnavis hits out at Rahul over SIR

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Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis interacts with people while inspecting the areas affected by the drought-like situation at Mohagavhan, Mangrulpir taluka, in Washim on September 24, 2026. | Photo Credit: ANI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday (September 28, 2026) defended the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, rejecting Rahul Gandhi’s “vote theft” allegations and saying political parties had adequate mechanisms to flag errors in electoral rolls.

Speaking at a press conference in Nagpur, Mr. Fadnavis said every political party could appoint Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to scrutinise voter lists and raise objections over wrongful deletions, inclusions, or missing names.

“Every party has the opportunity. At every booth, you can appoint your Booth Level Agent,” he said, adding that BLAs could raise objections over individual names on electoral rolls.

He accused the Opposition of questioning the process instead of participating in it and said voters whose names were left out could also subsequently file objections.

Mr. Fadnavis also challenged allegations that the revision exercise was being used to benefit the BJP. Citing West Bengal, he claimed that the Trinamool Congress had won at least 15 constituencies where many names had been removed during the revision. “If the votes removed in SIR were anti-BJP votes, then how did the TMC get elected?” he asked.

He said discrepancies in electoral rolls were more common in urban areas because of large-scale migration and instances of voters retaining registrations both in cities and in their native places. Such cases were comparatively fewer in rural Maharashtra, he said.

According to Mr. Fadnavis, electoral rolls had not undergone adequate revision over the years and the present exercise should be used to correct them rather than discredit the process.

He also referred to the joint press conference held by the three Election Commissioners on Saturday (September 26, 2026), claiming that it had rebutted reports suggesting disagreements within the Election Commission over the revision exercise.

“The three commissioners have said that all the processes, including SIR, were decided unanimously. There is no difference of opinion anywhere in this process,” Mr. Fadnavis said.

He added that a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary, which had figured in the controversy, was related to an appointment made on deputation and did not concern a policy-level disagreement.

Mr. Fadnavis accused Mr. Gandhi and the Congress of attempting to erode public confidence in constitutional institutions, including the Election Commission. He alleged that Opposition parties accepted the poll body’s functioning when they won elections but questioned it after defeats. “Their strategy is very clear — when you cannot convince people, confuse them,” he said.

He also took a personal swipe at Mr. Gandhi, saying there had been no “vote theft” and remarking that Mr. Gandhi’s “brain has been stolen”, before sarcastically suggesting that a committee be formed to “bring it back”.

Turning to the drought situation in Maharashtra, Mr. Fadnavis said the State government had declared 265 talukas drought-affected and approved 12 immediate relief measures. He said implementation had begun and necessary crop-loss assessments and panchnamas were being carried out to determine assistance.

“We have approved 12 measures that need to be taken immediately,” Mr. Fadnavis said, adding that the administrative process was being completed on priority so that farmers could receive relief.

He said complaints had been received from a small number of talukas that were not included in the drought declaration. Losses suffered by farmers in those areas would also be assessed, and eligible farmers would be covered under disaster-relief norms, he said.

“No farmer will be left out. We have decided that,” Mr. Fadnavis said, adding that issues concerning another five to 10 talukas would be addressed.

The Chief Minister also called for restraint in avoidable expenditure in view of the drought situation. Essential expenditure would have to continue, he said, but events or activities that could be avoided or conducted on a smaller scale should be scaled down.

Mr. Fadnavis also said the State government was preparing for the possibility of El Niño intensifying in the coming months.

According to current projections cited by him, El Niño could peak around February before its impact begins to ease as Pacific Ocean temperatures cool. The State, however, would have to remain prepared for difficulties if its effect intensified, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fadnavis said heavy rainfall had caused flooding in parts of Gadchiroli, with several villages affected.

He said he was in continuous contact with the local administration and that government teams had been deployed where difficulties had arisen, including to evacuate residents from affected areas.

“A number of villages are under floodwater,” Mr. Fadnavis said, adding that officials expected the water to begin receding by Sunday (September 27, 2026) afternoon and the situation to gradually come under control.

The administration had put necessary measures in place and relief operations were continuing in the affected areas, he said.

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