P Chidambaram defended peaceful anti-SIR protests as Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged a regime-change conspiracy. The exchange deepened the political confrontation over electoral revision, dissent and voting rights.
Supporters walk along a bus carrying INDIA bloc leaders as they proceed towards Supreme Court during a protest march in New Delhi, on Monday, October 12, 2026. (PTI Photo)
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has said the government will destabilise itself as the BJP alleges a Bangladesh-style regime-change plot behind the opposition’s protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In an interview with India Today, the former Union minister rejected allegations of violent protests, insisting that the Congress is committed to peaceful demonstrations and Gandhian methods. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, however, alleged a larger conspiracy to destabilise the government and accused the opposition of creating confusion over the voter-list revision exercise.
Responding to allegations that the opposition was seeking to overthrow the government through violent street mobilisation, Chidambaram said the Congress had never supported violence as a means of bringing about a change in government.
"We have never supported violent protests, nor do we aim to bring about a regime change through violence," he said, describing the Congress as a democratic party committed to Gandhian methods, demonstrations and building public opinion against the government.
Asked where the line lay between legitimate protests against alleged electoral malpractice and attempts to destabilise an elected government, Chidambaram said the government would destabilise itself.
"There are already voices within the BJP questioning the support to the chief election commissioner," he said, adding that the opposition only needed to build public opinion against the government.
Chidambaram maintained that young people were protesting against the issue and that their parents and elders were supporting them. He said the Congress remained committed to peaceful demonstrations and non-violence.
CHIDAMBARAM CLAIMS SIR ABANDONED IN 17 STATES
The former finance minister also claimed that the Election Commission had abandoned the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in 17 remaining states and Union Territories, switching instead to the customary Summary Revision (SSR).
Chidambaram argued that SIR and SSR were different exercises and could not operate together in the manner he described. He said the SIR process had been conducted in phases across 26 states, while the remaining states and Union Territories were expected to undergo the routine revision exercise.
He further alleged that the SIR process had removed 13.3 crore votes, a matter that he said was before the Supreme Court.
According to Chidambaram, the Election Commission must explain why it conducted SIR in 26 states and then moved to the customary revision process in the remaining states. He also questioned why BJP leaders were responding on behalf of the poll body.
"Why is the BJP explaining the ECI's action?" he asked, insisting that the Election Commission itself should justify its decisions.
Chidambaram said the opposition's fight went beyond SIR and concerned citizens' fundamental rights, including the right to vote, assemble, speak and protest. He also referred to a petition filed by Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders in the Supreme Court concerning alleged misconduct by the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commission.
SUDHANSHU TRIVEDI ALLEGES CONSPIRACY TO DESTABILISE GOVERNMENT
BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi rejected the opposition's arguments, accusing Congress and its allies of creating confusion over electoral revision and attempting to portray the process as evidence of wrongdoing.
Distinguishing between a democratic change of government and what he described as an attempt to overthrow an elected government through agitation, Trivedi said governments could change only through constitutional means.
He also cited allegations concerning US funding to increase voter turnout in India, referring to remarks attributed to US President Donald Trump about the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Trivedi questioned why a US agency would spend money to increase voter participation in India and suggested the issue warranted scrutiny. However, the interview did not independently establish a connection between the funding allegations and the anti-SIR protests or an alleged regime-change plot.
On the revision exercise, Trivedi argued that SIR was a periodic process, whereas Summary Revision was a routine exercise. He accused the Congress of misrepresenting the distinction and creating confusion over the Election Commission's actions.
BJP QUESTIONS SCALE OF ANTI-SIR PROTESTS IN DELHI
Trivedi also questioned the scale of the protests in Delhi, where police were heavily deployed in Connaught Place amid efforts to prevent protesters from gathering.
Citing visuals from the area, he argued that the turnout was much smaller than the opposition's claims suggested. He compared the gathering with the potential support base of student organisations and said a larger mobilisation would have resulted in a much bigger crowd.
Trivedi also accused the opposition of shifting its focus from student-related issues, including examination concerns and paper leaks, to electoral politics. He claimed the protests had failed to attract widespread public support.
His assessment of the crowd and the movement's public backing was based on his interpretation of the visuals and political developments discussed during the interview.
DETENTION OF ACTIVISTS BECOME FLASHPOINT
The interviews also addressed the detention of AISA chief Neha Bora and CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, as well as the heavy police deployment in Connaught Place.
Asked how the government justified its response while ensuring peaceful dissent was not conflated with a threat to public order, Trivedi argued that the gathering had not attracted a large crowd. He pointed to visuals showing traffic and regular movement continuing in the area.
Chidambaram, meanwhile, said the opposition would continue to pursue its challenge to the Election Commission through legal and political channels. Referring to the Supreme Court proceedings, he said the court would examine the arguments and evidence before reaching a decision.
The exchange highlights the widening political confrontation over SIR. While the Congress has framed its campaign as a fight for electoral accountability and fundamental rights, the BJP has accused the opposition of using the issue to create confusion and destabilise the government.
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