Kerala BJP Chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar Repeats Demand Of Rahul Gandhi’s Apology
Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has renewed his demand for Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to apologise to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Election Commission of India (ECI) over his remarks linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Chandrasekhar reiterated his position on Monday through posts on social media, days after his remarks against Gandhi drew criticism from Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan.
The exchange has unfolded amid a wider political dispute over reported differences of opinion within the Election Commission regarding the SIR exercise.
Chandrasekhar Repeats His “Offer”
Chandrasekhar said he was repeating an “offer” he had made to Satheesan after the Kerala Chief Minister objected to his remarks against Gandhi.
In a post on X, the BJP leader said Satheesan could take up his proposal and criticised the Congress leadership over what he described as its political approach. He said he would continue to attack his opponents if his demand was not accepted.
The BJP leader earlier had said that the Congress leader was to apologise to him for alleged remarks on Modi and the Election Commission or he will stop calling Gandhi a “fraud”.
Chandrasekhar’s comments are political allegations and characterisations; Gandhi has not accepted the demand described by the BJP leader.
Dispute Follows Debate Over ECI’s SIR Exercise
The latest exchange comes against the backdrop of controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and reported differences among Election Commission officials.
Satheesan had criticised Chandrasekhar for making personal remarks against Gandhi, arguing that personal attacks did not constitute political criticism.
Chandrasekhar, however, defended his statements and said Gandhi’s remarks concerning the Prime Minister and the Election Commission should themselves be condemned.
The SIR issue has become a broader political flashpoint, with opposition parties questioning aspects of the electoral-roll revision process and the Election Commission defending its actions.
Kerala CM Defends Rahul Gandhi
Satheesan has pushed back against Chandrasekhar’s remarks and defended Gandhi.
The Kerala Chief Minister has accused the BJP leader of making personal attacks and that Congress and Gandhi were raising the issue of democracy and secularism, reports said.
Satheesan also raised his doubts if Chandrasekhar and other BJP leaders could say they were committed to safeguarding secularism while making such statements.
Political Exchange Continues
Chandrasekhar, who represents Nemom in the Kerala Assembly, said he generally avoided personal attacks on political opponents but argued that Gandhi’s statements warranted his response.
The BJP leader has also criticised Gandhi’s position on the Election Commission and the SIR exercise, while the Congress and its leaders have continued to question aspects of the electoral-roll revision process.
The latest exchange adds another layer to the ongoing political confrontation in Kerala over the Election Commission, SIR and the conduct of political leaders, with both sides continuing to defend their respective positions.