Amit Shah Challenges Rahul Gandhi to Parliament Debate on Electoral Roll Revision

Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to Hyderabad on Monday, November 2, 2026. Shah addressed a BJP rally in the city and challenged Rahul Gandhi to debate the revision of electoral rolls in Parliament. Photo: By Arrangement

At a BJP rally in Hyderabad, the Union Home Minister accuses the Congress of trying to restore names he claims were ineligible for inclusion on voter lists

Key Highlights

• Amit Shah says the Centre is ready to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss electoral roll revision and electronic voting machines.
• Shah alleges that nearly three crore of the names removed belonged to people he described as ‘infiltrators’. The claim has not been independently verified.
• The remarks follow the INDIA bloc’s ‘Vote Bachao’ rally in New Delhi on Sunday.
• Shah also targets the Telangana government over alleged corruption and what he described as unfulfilled election promises.

Hyderabad: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday challenged Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to debate the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Parliament, saying the BJP-led government was ready to convene a special session. Speaking after a BJP march in Hyderabad on November 2, Shah accused the Congress of opposing the revision to protect people he claimed were ineligible to vote.

Shah was addressing the BJP’s ‘Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao’ rally near Mozamjahi Market. His remarks came a day after the INDIA bloc held its ‘Vote Bachao’ rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan to protest against alleged electoral irregularities. Shah described the opposition gathering as a ‘ghusbaitiya bachao rally’, or a rally to protect infiltrators. I

Shah Challenges Congress to Debate SIR and EVMs

Shah said the proposed parliamentary discussion could cover electoral roll revision and the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs). He also said the government was prepared to discuss the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system. His remarks expressed readiness to hold a special session. No date was announced at the rally.

“We are ready to convene a special session of Parliament. Come for debate,” Shah said.

The Home Minister questioned the Congress’s criticism of EVMs, citing election victories by the party and other non-BJP parties in states including Telangana. He argued that questions about voting machines and the revision of electoral rolls should be debated in Parliament.

Home Minister Makes Claim About Names Removed from Voter Rolls

Responding to Gandhi’s assertion that 13 crore names had been removed during the revision, Shah claimed that nearly three crore belonged to people he described as ‘infiltrators’. He attributed other removals to voters who had moved and people who had died. The figure of nearly three crore was Shah’s claim at the rally and has not been independently verified.

Shah said only Indian citizens should be entitled to vote and alleged that the Congress wanted to restore ineligible entries. The opposition, meanwhile, used its Delhi rally to raise concerns about alleged electoral irregularities. Gandhi later challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to an open debate.

Telangana Government Comes Under Fire

Turning to state politics, Shah accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s government of failing to fulfil its election promises. He alleged that the state government was serving the interests of the Congress leadership in Delhi and used the phrase ‘RR Tax’ to target both Reddy and Gandhi.

Shah also criticised the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), claiming that neither party could curb the corruption he alleged. He contrasted the Telangana government’s record with the BJP-led Centre’s decisions on Article 370 and triple talaq, and cited the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya among the commitments he said had been fulfilled.

BJP March Draws Supporters to Central Hyderabad

The march began at Gunfoundry and proceeded to Mozamjahi Market under tight security. Supporters carrying BJP flags and cut-outs gathered along the route. Shah carried the national flag and walked alongside Union ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao and other party leaders. He addressed the gathering after the march.