- Shah predicts Congress's "crushing defeat" in 2029 elections.
- Dismisses Rahul Gandhi's "SIR" charge of irregularities.
- Highlights BJP's recent victories in by-elections and Gujarat.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi over the opposition’s street protests in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, warning that the Congress should brace for another "crushing defeat" in the 2029 general elections.
Shah said that the people of the country stood firmly behind the BJP, the National Democratic Alliance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, dismissing the opposition’s allegations of electoral irregularities.
"I also wish to ask Rahul ji: is this the result of an 'SIR'? You dismiss the popularity of the BJP and Modi ji by attributing it to an 'SIR'. You need to introspect. In a major state where you once held power, you have failed to win a single election in 41 years," Shah said.
#WATCH | Delhi | Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "I also wish to ask Rahul ji: is this the result of an 'SIR'? You dismiss the popularity of the BJP and Modi ji by attributing it to an 'SIR'. You need to introspect. In a major state where you once held power, you have failed to win a single election in 41 years. This is a matter that demands serious introspection on their part. Recently, by-elections were held in three states across the country: West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. I want to inform the people of the country today that the Congress party did not win a single seat in the elections held in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. In Naogaon, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate won by a margin of 1,42,000 votes; the BJP wrested this seat from the Congress party. In Nandigram, the BJP candidate won with 76% of the vote, securing a massive lead of 1,22,000 votes. In Rejinagar, West Bengal, the BJP won by over 75,000 votes—snatching the seat from the Trinamool—while in Puducherry, the NDA candidate from ally AINRC won by 8,482 votes; the Congress secured only 22% of the votes"
— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2026
He also criticised what he described as the Congress's "negative politics", saying the party needed to understand the people’s concerns and strengthen its connection with the public.
"I want to tell Shri Rahul ji and his associates to prepare themselves once again for a crushing defeat in 2029. In the 2029 general elections, the NDA is going to win with a resounding majority, and the Congress is going to face defeat for the fourth consecutive time.
#WATCH | Delhi | Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "...I also wish to tell Rahul Gandhi and his associates to brace themselves for a crushing defeat in 2029. The NDA is set to secure a massive majority in the 2029 general elections, and the Congress is headed for yet another defeat—its fourth consecutive loss..." "I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that the people of this country have fully understood your strategy of shielding infiltrators under the guise of the SIR, and they will no longer fall for your ruses. I also wish to tell Shri Rahul and his associates to brace themselves for a crushing defeat in 2029. The NDA is set to secure a massive majority in the 2029 general elections, and the Congress is headed for yet another defeat—its fourth consecutive loss. The people of this country stand with Narendra Modi, the BJP, and the NDA. You cannot deny this truth. Today, on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party, I once again wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Tripura, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bengal, and Assam; amidst a storm of malicious propaganda, they have placed their seal of approval—their stamp of preference—on Narendra Modi, the BJP’s 'Lotus' symbol, and the NDA, thereby strengthening all nationalist forces. I thank them sincerely on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2026
"The people of this country are with Narendra Modi ji, with the BJP, with the NDA. You cannot deny this truth," he told reporters.
Shah also accused the opposition of attempting to get infiltrators registered as voters.
"I want to ask Shri Rahul Gandhi ji directly: Is this the result of the SIR? The SIR started only after 2024.
#WATCH | Delhi | On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "You cannot win the trust of the nation's people through fabricated media events and 'Jhooth Ki Goonj'. You cannot become the voice of the nation merely by mobilizing the cadres of fourteen parties to gather a crowd of eight thousand within a span of one and a half kilometers. I urge the Congress party to realize that the voice of the nation also resides in the fields and farms, in the villages, in remote hills and forests, and along the riverbanks—areas where you have no reach. There are many states in the country—such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu—where the people have rejected and defeated the Congress party for decades. Even today, the negative politics the Congress is pursuing will not benefit them. They need to understand the public and connect with the people..."
— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2026
"Ever since you became the principal leader of the Congress, and later its president, and now the Leader of the Opposition, the Congress party has continuously lost elections. You need to engage in introspection. You cannot win the trust of the country's people through fabricated media events and echoes of lies," he said.
Shah Targets Congress After BJP's Gujarat Victory
Shah’s remarks came amid the BJP’s "resounding victory" in the Gujarat local body elections, where the party secured 90 of the 104 seats across two municipalities and one municipal corporation.
The Home Minister said the results reflected the people of Gujarat’s unwavering trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He also questioned the Congress’s relevance in the state’s electoral politics.
#WATCH | Delhi | On Gujarat Local Body Election Results 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "Elections were held today for three municipalities and municipal corporations in Gujarat. The Bharatiya Janata Party achieved a resounding victory, winning 90 out of the total 104 seats across these two municipalities and one municipal corporation. In the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation—which falls within my constituency—the BJP won 38 out of 44 seats. The Aam Aadmi Party contested all 32 seats but forfeited its security deposit on every single one of them. This massive victory in Gujarat reflects the mood of the state's voters, demonstrating that the electorate of Gujarat stands rock-solid behind Narendra Modi ji. Compared to the previous election, the BJP has increased its vote share by 10% in the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation. I want to make this point clear—and specifically convey it to Rahul ji—that the Congress party has not won a single election in 41 years. The last election they won was back in 1985; since then, they have faced continuous defeats in Gujarat"
— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2026
"I want to make this point clear – and specifically convey it to Rahul ji – that the Congress party has not won a single election in 41 years. The last election they won was back in 1985; since then, they have faced continuous defeats in Gujarat."
Highlighting the BJP’s performance in his Gandhinagar constituency, Shah said the party had won 38 of the 44 seats in the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation, recording a 10 per cent increase in vote share compared with the previous election.
"Elections were held today for three municipalities and municipal corporations in Gujarat. The Bharatiya Janata Party achieved a resounding victory, winning 90 out of the total 104 seats across these two municipalities and one municipal corporation."
"In the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation--which falls within my constituency--the BJP won 38 out of 44 seats."
Shah also took a swipe at the Aam Aadmi Party, claiming that it had lost its security deposit in all 32 seats it contested.
"The Aam Aadmi Party contested all 32 seats but forfeited its security deposit on every single one of them."
Rahul Gandhi Says India Bloc Protest Aims to Restore Democracy
Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the INDIA bloc’s protest against alleged electoral irregularities was aimed at restoring democracy in the country.
After hosting a high-tea meeting at his residence with INDIA bloc leaders, opposition MPs and student organisations, Gandhi accused the government of undermining democratic institutions. He said the opposition would unite to fight for the restoration of democratic rule.
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Gandhi also said the opposition would challenge the government’s decision to restrict the use of Jantar Mantar as a venue for protests, arguing that the move limited the expression of democratic dissent.