'You failed to win a single poll in Gujarat in 41 years': Amit Shah targets Rahul Gandhi over SIR row

Taking aim at the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shah argued that the Congress had been losing elections long before the current SIR exercise began.

At a press conference, Shah said, "The massive victory in Gujarat reflects the mood of the voters, demonstrating that the electorate of Gujarat — and indeed India — continues to stand firmly behind Narendra Modi.

“Since the last election, the BJP has increased its vote share in the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation by 10%. I want to make this clear, and I particularly want this message to reach Rahul Gandhi: the Congress party has not won a single election here in 41 years.”

He claimed that the party's electoral decline had continued since Gandhi entered politics.

Shah accused Gandhi of using the voter roll revision exercise to deflect attention from his own political shortcomings and the Congress' repeated electoral defeats.

BJP scores big in Gandhinagar civic polls

The Home Minister's remarks came after the BJP registered a sweeping victory in the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation elections, winning 38 of the 44 seats in Gujarat's state capital.

The BJP also retained control of the Thara and Okha municipalities, further strengthening its position in the state's local body elections.

Gandhinagar falls within Shah's Lok Sabha constituency, making the BJP's commanding performance there a significant political talking point amid the ongoing confrontation over the SIR exercise.

Rahul Gandhi vows to continue Opposition's 'resistance'

Earlier on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi hosted a high tea meeting with leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc and representatives of student organisations before addressing a press conference.

During the interaction with the media, Gandhi maintained that the Opposition would continue its resistance against alleged irregularities in the SIR process and what he described as Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's unilateral functioning.

Gandhi said the protests were aimed at restoring democracy in the country, reiterating the Opposition's concerns over the electoral roll revision exercise and the functioning of the Election Commission.

Shah questions Congress' electoral strategy

Responding to Gandhi's remarks, Shah questioned the Congress' repeated reliance on allegations surrounding the SIR process to explain its electoral losses.

He pointed out that the current SIR exercise began only after the 2024 general elections, arguing that the Congress had suffered a series of electoral setbacks well before then.

"I also want to ask Rahul ji: Do you attribute this result to the SIR? Do you dismiss the popularity of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi? You need to introspect. You have failed to win a single election in 41 years in a major state where you once held power," he said.

The exchange has intensified the political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress, with the Opposition continuing to challenge the voter roll revision process and the ruling party accusing it of using the issue to mask its electoral failures.