Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan Back Centre on SIR as Opposition Targets Election Commission

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan have extended their support to the Narendra Modi-led central government over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, as the political confrontation between the ruling NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc continues to intensify.

The two leaders defended the electoral-roll revision process during a joint press conference on Tuesday, alongside Andhra Pradesh BJP president PVN Madhav. Their remarks come amid opposition allegations concerning the functioning and impartiality of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Chandrababu Naidu Questions Opposition's Stand on Elections

Naidu, who heads the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), criticised opposition parties for questioning the electoral process after losing elections. He argued that concerns about electoral credibility should be raised consistently rather than only following unfavourable results.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister also referred to the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs) under a Congress-led government. He questioned why opposition parties accepted the machines when they won elections but raised doubts about their reliability after defeats.

Defending the SIR exercise, Naidu said booth-level agents representing political parties had been invited to participate in the enumeration process, while booth-level officers were coordinating the exercise. He questioned why objections had not been raised during the process itself.

Naidu further accused YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of changing his position on SIR according to political convenience. He also argued that CCTV surveillance had improved oversight of the electoral process compared with earlier instances of alleged booth rigging.

Pawan Kalyan Joins Defence of the Centre

Pawan Kalyan, leader of the Jana Sena Party and Andhra Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister, joined Naidu in supporting the Centre's position on electoral-roll revision.

The joint appearance with the state BJP president underlined the alignment among the NDA partners in Andhra Pradesh on the politically sensitive issue.

The support from TDP and Jana Sena is significant because both parties are important allies of the BJP-led NDA. Their backing provides the central government with support from regional leaders as opposition parties continue to demand greater accountability from the Election Commission.

Congress Plans November 1 Rally in Delhi

The statements from the Andhra Pradesh leaders came ahead of a Congress rally scheduled for November 1 at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.

Congress is expected to intensify its campaign against the Modi government over SIR and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party and other INDIA bloc constituents have questioned the Election Commission's impartiality and raised concerns about the electoral-roll revision process.

The proposed rally is part of the wider opposition campaign around electoral transparency, voter-list accuracy and the functioning of constitutional institutions.

SIR Becomes a Major Political Flashpoint

The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has emerged as a major point of confrontation between the NDA and opposition parties. Supporters of the exercise argue that electoral rolls require verification and updating, while critics have raised concerns about the transparency of the process and its potential impact on eligible voters.

The debate has also highlighted the differing political positions of national and regional parties. While the BJP and its NDA allies have defended the revision exercise, Congress and other opposition parties have called for greater scrutiny of the Election Commission's actions.

The dispute is likely to remain prominent in national political discussions as the November 1 rally approaches.

Political Significance

Naidu and Pawan Kalyan's public support for the Centre reinforces the NDA's position on SIR at a time when the opposition is attempting to build a broader campaign around electoral transparency.

For the TDP and Jana Sena leadership in Andhra Pradesh, the joint press conference also demonstrates their coordination with the BJP on a key national political issue. The coming days may see further exchanges between the ruling alliance and opposition leaders as both sides seek to influence public opinion on electoral reforms.

The central question remains whether the SIR exercise can command broader political confidence amid competing claims about its necessity, transparency and implementation.

This article is based on the report published by The Economic Times on October 28, 2026. Political allegations and statements attributed to individual leaders are presented as claims made by those leaders.