'Vote Chori' vs 'Regime Loot': How BJP's Counter-Offensive Is Taking Shape

Updated: Oct 21, 2026 18:34 pm IST Published On Oct 21, 2026 18:25 pm IST Last Updated On Oct 21, 2026 18:34 pm IST

Published On Oct 21, 2026 18:25 pm IST

Last Updated On Oct 21, 2026 18:34 pm IST

Politicians are extremely tenacious. Their footwork can sometimes be so sublime that a change in tactics is hard to decipher. It's being highlighted yet again by how, in a climate of setbacks, Delhi's ruling party seems to have discovered a chance for a comeback. The political narrative since July has been unfavourable for the BJP. A satirical platform mobilised masses and claimed the scalp of a central minister, forcing none less than PM Narendra Modi to launch an outreach to a voting group that stood up and said they cannot be ignored.

For much of October, India's political narrative was dominated by the Opposition led by a consistent Rahul Gandhi. The government faced a high opposition-unity index and serious questions delivered not through press conferences but via an agitation. The national capital echoed with war cries like "vote chori" and "Gyanesh, it's done bro!", with the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation on the demand charter. 

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With 12 years of incumbency weighing heavily, the saffron party had its back to the proverbial wall like never before. Till a few days ago, the BJP and the government it leads were openly contesting "vote chori" but were feeble in response on the CEC issue.

On Dussehra, through speeches, two of the most influential men in Delhi's ruling matrix -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP's ideological mentor, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat -- like Hansel and Gretel from a famous German fairy tale, dropped a trail of breadcrumbs for their voters to find their way........

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