BJP slams Rahul over CJI request meeting, says constitutional institutions can't be dragged into political theatrics

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said the Chief Justice of India's decision not to meet Rahul Gandhi sends an important message that the judiciary must stay above political battles

The BJP on Monday (October 12, 2026) criticised the Congress over Rahul Gandhi's request for a meeting with the Chief Justice of India (CJI), saying the judiciary must remain above day-to-day political battles.

In a post on X, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, "From separation of powers to desperation for power, Rahul Gandhi has confused constitutional law with political theatre!" He said the CJI's declining to meet Mr. Gandhi and Opposition leaders sent an important message: the judiciary must remain above day-to-day political battles. "Constitutional institutions cannot be dragged into political theatrics," he said.

Further attacking Mr. Gandhi, Mr. Bhatia said merely carrying a copy of the Constitution did not mean one understood it. "Read it. Respect it. And learn the doctrine of separation of powers. The Constitution is a guide to governance, not a prop for political performance!" he added.

Intensifying their agitation against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the Opposition parties marched to the Supreme Court on Monday, with Mr. Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge seeking a meeting with Chief Justice Surya Kant to raise the issue of "vote chori." The CJI, however, declined to meet Mr. Gandhi over the "vote chori" allegations, saying similar matters were sub judice in the Supreme Court, sources said.

Both Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Kharge had written to the CJI, seeking a meeting between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday to hand over a memorandum, demanding an end to "vote chori," the CEC's resignation, the halting of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and a switch back to the paper ballot format.