You will not come to power in next 30 years, Amit Shah warns Rahul Gandhi

Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday (October 22, 2026) launched a scathing attack on Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over his vote-stealing allegations that he will not form a government at the Center for the next 30 years. The Congress responded that the BJP was responding desperately, adding that vote theft was a “proven reality”.

Also read | Amit Shah slams opposition, says protests won’t achieve anything, NDA to form next government in Punjab

“Rahul ji, the whole country understands you and your friends, by creating hue and cry over vote chori (stealing), you want to save the votes of infiltrators,” Mr Shah said at an event in Delhi.

The home minister said that when the Congress and its allies lose elections, they sometimes give the excuse of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and sometimes the alleged theft of votes.

“negative politics”

“When I say that the BJP government will stay for 30 years, they tell people that ‘vote chori is happening, otherwise Amit Shah would know’. Amit Shah is born here, lives here and stays among the people of the country and does not have to go abroad every six months. The kind of negative politics you are doing, based on that, I can say that 30 years home, your government will not come to another will.”

“When you (Rahul Gandhi) land in Delhi, remember my words: your number will not appear for the next 30 years,” he added.

The Home Minister said that a different game is being played in Delhi at present as BJP governments are continuously elected in states across the country. “This worries the opponents and that is why they are making the excuse of voting chori. They claim that the BJP is not coming to power through popular vote but by stealing votes,” he said.

“double standard”

Mr. Shah noted that the recent Kerala Assembly elections were held with the same electoral roll, Election Commission and EVMs; after winning the election, the opposition made a promise.

“When the opposition won in Telangana, the Election Commission was also good and the voter list was also good. When they won in Himachal, the Election Commission and the voter list were good even then… These double standards will not work, Rahul ji. People have understood you now,” he said.

The home minister said the opposition cannot negate the country’s mandate with such political tactics and mobocracy. If one wants to win an election, he said, one should go among the people to understand their sufferings and pains; nothing will be achieved by dharnas and protests. “Wherever you have been elected, bring plans and work to remove the sorrow, pain, suffering and disorder of the people, otherwise even the remaining existence will end,” Mr Shah said.

“The nation is outraged”

Reacting to the allegations, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X that “Vote Chori is a proven reality”.

“According to ECI’s own figures, more than 10 million Indians face the risk of losing their constitutional right to vote. ECI illegally modified Form 6 to create barriers for new voters. Facilitated widespread misuse of Form 7 for targeted erasure. CEC used ECINET to centralize control over all legal safeguards and rewrite.

The nation is “outraged,” Mr. Ramesh said, adding that widespread anger is fueling continued protests despite the crackdown.

“The PM ecosystem in its desperation and nervousness is now trying to distract and distract, doing what is in its very DNA – spreading lies. It will not succeed. The PM-HM duo has been brutally exposed and the people will hold them accountable,” he said.

Punjab’s impact on drug trade

The Home Minister also attacked the Aam Aadmi Party. With drug trade booming in Punjab under the AAP government, the people of the state have now decided to vote for the BJP-led NDA government there, he said.

“Kejriwal ji, listen carefully: the politics of excuses does not last long. Results must be delivered. He lost Delhi and now he has set up camp in Punjab and is not allowing even the chief minister to work there,” Mr Shah said, vowing to defeat the AAP in the upcoming assembly elections and end the drug trade in Punjab by 2029.

Published – 22 Oct 2026 22:24 IST