Prashant Bhushan, a senior advocate and key figure in the anti‑CEC protest, took to a press conference in Delhi on Thursday, 15 October 2026, and openly declared that the movement’s aim is regime change.
Bhushan added that "disaffection" against the government is not a crime in a democracy and that the struggle now "really for a regime change." He pointed out that the BJP has historically run campaigns with a regime‑change objective, framing the current protests as a continuation of that pattern.
BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan countered, accusing Bhushan and his group of being a front for Rahul Gandhi’s anti‑democratic agenda. Kesavan stated that the SIR process is merely a smokescreen and that Rahul Gandhi is unfit to be Leader of Opposition.
The party also highlighted a 39‑second clip from Neha Bora, who said the Gen Z movement in Bangladesh was an inspiration. Kesavan called the clip proof of the protestors’ "real intentions" to destabilise the nation.
Meanwhile, protest organisers say the crackdown has only intensified public support. In a crowded rally outside the CEC, a mother of two shouted that the police’s heavy‑handed tactics had turned the debate into a fight for survival.
As the BJP ramps up its narrative, the next major development is the scheduled parliamentary question hour on 20 October, where Rahul Gandhi is expected to address the allegations.