BJP-NDA turns Opposition’s regime change narrative into political weapon

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has stepped up its political counteroffensive against Opposition-backed protests over alleged electoral irregularities and voter-roll manipulation, accusing the Congress-led I.N.D.I.A bloc of using the “vote chori” campaign to advance a broader agenda of “regime change”. With senior BJP and JD(U) leaders rallying behind the government’s response, the ruling alliance is seeking to frame the protests as a challenge to constitutional processes rather than merely a demand for electoral reforms.

The controversy has intensified following remarks by extreme-left student leader Neha Bora, who drew parallels between the ongoing protests in India and violent upheavals in Bangladesh, expressing solidarity with the protesters there. Her participation in an I.N.D.I.A bloc protest march alongside Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has provided the BJP with fresh ammunition to question the Opposition’s political objectives.

Senior NDA leaders have argued that attempts to bring about a change of government must take place through elections and established constitutional mechanisms, rather than street mobilisation. The BJP has also invoked the example of Bangladesh to warn against what it describes as attempts to import a model of political upheaval into India.

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BJP national president Nitin Nabin, in a post on X, said the use of the phrase “regime change” had exposed the Opposition’s alleged intentions. “The use of terms like ‘regime change’ has exposed the true agenda of the Opposition,” Nabin wrote, alleging that the protests were part of an attempt to destabilise the country. He described the effort as being linked to the agenda of “urban Naxals” “The Opposition’s fight is not for electoral reforms, SIR, or the future of the country’s youth… but rather to spread anarchy in the country and seize power at any cost,” he added.

Nabin’s remarks echoed the criticism levelled by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who accused Rahul Gandhi of pursuing what he termed the “politics of disruption” in the name of protecting democracy. Singh has maintained that the Opposition must respect the electoral mandate delivered in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, in which the BJP emerged as the single-largest party but fell short of a parliamentary majority.

BJP leaders have argued that while Opposition parties have the right to raise concerns over electoral processes, although allegations of vote theft must be supported by evidence and pursued through appropriate institutional channels.

BJP national vice president, Baijayant Panda told The Sunday Guardian, “Regime change is an illegitimate means of grabbing power in democracies where its proponents are unable to win elections. In India, they have now openly declared they are attempting regime change, and their methods and toolkit are identical to what has been done in some other countries. Their fake allegations earlier against EVMs and now voter rolls are not backed by any evidence whatsoever. India’s public has realised this and is shunning them.”