Dhami launches BJP's 'Save Democracy' drive in Uttarakhand, accuses Congress of sowing distrust over SIR

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday launched the BJP’s “Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy” campaign in the state and accused the Congress of trying to undermine trust in the electoral rolls revision.

The campaign will run from 22 October to 30 November in two phases, the first until 5 November and the second from 11 to 30 November. Party workers are to hold padyatras and public meetings in all 13 districts and to talk up the record of the Central and state governments.

Speaking in Dehradun and on X, Dhami said the Congress was opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter lists because it could not accept losing elections. “Instead of accepting its electoral defeat, the Congress is engaged in creating an atmosphere of distrust,” he said.

He accused the party of questioning constitutional institutions and making “vote theft” allegations, and said the Congress and its allies had not accepted the BJP’s mandates since 2014. Its defeats, he said, began long before Gyanesh Kumar became Chief Election Commissioner. Pointing to his own experience of registering as a voter, he asked what objection anyone could have to the revision.

In a jibe aimed at Rahul Gandhi, Dhami said, “It is easy to carry a copy of the Constitution.” He also criticised the Congress for encouraging “regime change” slogans and for talk of India turning into “Bangladesh”.

The BJP in Bihar began a 15-day statewide campaign of its own on Thursday, “Loktantra bachao, bheedtantra hatao” (save democracy, remove mob rule), which is set to run until 5 November. It was reported to include press conferences, padyatras, rallies and youth meetings focused on the accuracy of voter lists and voting rights.

No response from the Uttarakhand Congress to Dhami’s remarks had been reported by late Thursday.