➖ ECI’s joint statement has exposed Congress’ ‘manufactured controversy’: Kewal Singh Dhillon

➖ Opposition’s allegations of collusion between ECI and BJP were highly immature, says Punjab BJP president, adding that India’s democracy remains protected

➖ Opposition should instead cooperate with authorities in ensuring accurate, updated electoral rolls: Dhillon

Chandigarh, September 27:Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party president Kewal Singh Dhillon on Sunday slammed the Congress-led opposition for its ‘manufactured controversy’ and ‘deliberate’ campaign to create doubts about the Election Commission of India (ECI), and said that the poll panel’s latest joint statement had exposed the allegations being levelled against it over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

While addressing a press conference at Chandigarh on Sunday, Dhillon said, “The Commission’s clarification had made it clear that decisions relating to SIR and other major operational matters were taken with the approval of all three Election Commissioners. The ECI, after a full meeting on September 26, made it clear that its decisions on the electoral roll revision exercise were unanimous. The Commission has also maintained that the SIR orders issued since June 24, 2025, had the approval of the full Commission, refuting all baseless allegations of the opposition party.”

“The Congress and its allies have once again been exposed. They tried to manufacture a controversy around the Election Commission and create an impression of a division within a constitutional institution. The Election Commission’s own clarification has demolished this narrative. Congress must stop using constitutional institutions as political targets simply because the facts do not suit its narrative,” Dhillon said.

➖ ‘Congress’ allegations on electoral-roll decisions were clearly misleading’
He said the clarification regarding the communication sent to the Cabinet Secretary was equally significant. “According to the ECI, the letter concerned an internal administrative matter relating to an officer on deputation and had no connection with Commission policy, its IT division or the SIR exercise. Attempts to link the communication with electoral-roll decisions were clearly misleading”, he added.

“The politics of suspicion cannot replace facts. Differing questions or suggestions during an institutional decision-making process are not the same thing as a disagreement over the final decision. The Election Commission has already clarified that operational inputs raised during the drafting process were part of normal deliberations and that final decisions were unanimous,” Dhillon said.

‘Opposition’s allegations on collusion between ECI and BJP were immature. India’s democracy remains protected’

“Various opposition parties and the Congress Party in particular had launched an attack on the ECI and the BJP. The opposition not only alleged collusion between ECI and the BJP, but also alleged that India’s democracy has been compromised. These were highly immature allegations. The opposition should instead encourage eligible citizens to participate in the electoral process and cooperate with the authorities in ensuring accurate and updated electoral rolls. The ECI has also said that outreach efforts are being undertaken to facilitate enrolment and voter participation, including through field-level officials”, Dhillon further added.

Dhillon accused the Congress of repeatedly attempting to undermine public confidence in constitutional institutions whenever political narratives do not go in its favour. “The opposition had previously raised questions about electoral machinery, the Election Commission and other institutions and was now attempting to turn an administrative and procedural issue into a political controversy. Political parties have every right to question decisions and seek clarification, but spreading unverified allegations against institutions responsible for conducting elections is not in the interest of democracy,” he concluded.