Rahul Gandhi is protesting ECI out of desperation, says Pralhad Joshi

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, MLAs Arvind Bellad and Mahesh Tenginkai and others participate in the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha-Seva Jyoti Yatra in Hubballi on Wednesday. | Photo credit: KIRAN BAKALE

Union Minister for Education, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi claimed that after successive defeats in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in various states, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi started protesting against the Election Commission of India (ECI) out of desperation.

Speaking to presspersons in Hubballi on Wednesday, Mr. Joshi said that blaming the ECI for the Congress party’s electoral losses was far from the truth. “The agitation against ECI is aimed at covering up the failure of Rahul Gandhi,” he said.

He also described as baseless the claim that 13 million voters were removed from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Review (SIR). “Of these, 3 million have died and officials have not been able to contact 2.80 million. A total of 6.80 million voters have moved elsewhere. Officials should try to trace the voters they have not been able to contact so far,” he said.

Defending the steps taken by the ECI, Mr. Joshi said voting rights cannot be extended to anyone without proper scrutiny. The Congress government in Karnataka should ensure that the SIR process is conducted properly, he said.

Published – 07 Oct 2026 18:41 IST