Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh BJP defended the Election Commission of India on Sunday, September 27. Party spokesperson Tobom Dai addressed a press conference in Itanagar to push back against recent criticism. The controversy centers on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Political heat spiked after Rahul Gandhi demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on September 24.
Dai blasted the Congress leader for attacking constitutional bodies without checking facts first. The BJP official pointed to an ECI statement from September 26. This release confirmed that Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, and Vivek Joshi reached unanimous decisions on the revision process during a full meeting. The commission also clarified its communication with the Cabinet Secretary and the mechanics of Form-6 applications.
Recent media reports from The Indian Express claimed internal rifts existed within the poll panel. Opposition leaders used these reports to demand swift action against the CEC. Dai argued that the ECI clarification renders these demands baseless. He told reporters, "Political leaders, particularly those holding constitutional positions, should verify facts before making allegations concerning constitutional institutions."
State BJP president Kaling Moyong took to social media to urge respect for democratic processes regardless of election results. MP Tapir Gao echoed this, highlighting the need to protect the integrity of the mandate. The party maintained that debates regarding voter verification belong in legal and constitutional channels rather than public shouting matches. Dai further alleged that Congress only attacks these institutions when they lose, accepting the results only when they win.
Updated at 28th September 2026 at 2:00pm
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu joined the fray on Monday, September 28, to back the poll panel. Khandu cited an ECI order from June 24, 2025, to argue that the decision for the Special Intensive Revision had the unanimous approval of the full commission. He challenged the narrative pushed by Rahul Gandhi, stating the official records prove the process was a collective institutional move rather than the work of any single individual.
Khandu added that subsequent schedules for the revision exercise also received the full backing of the commissioners. The ECI further clarified that any views voiced during internal deliberations do not count as separate or unilateral decisions, putting the weight of the commission behind the collective nature of the rollout.
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