Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has called on citizens to safeguard their voting rights and oppose alleged electoral malpractice, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of manipulating the democratic process.
In a post on X, accompanied by a fictional video, Kharge said, “Do not let your right to vote be snatched away. Ask questions, demand answers. Raise your voice against #VoteChori. Free constitutional institutions from the clutches of BJP!”
The video portrays two individuals, allegedly representing the BJP, colluding with Election Commission officials to cast votes in place of legitimate voters. When the real voters arrive—identifying themselves as Garib Das and his wife—they are told their votes have already been cast. The video ends with a jibe at the Election Commission, dubbing it the “Election Chori Aayog.”
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also shared the video, stating that stealing a vote is equivalent to stealing a citizen’s rights and identity.
On August 12, Kharge chaired a meeting with AICC general secretaries, state in-charges, and leaders of frontal organisations to plan a nationwide campaign against alleged voter list manipulation. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sachin Pilot, KC Venugopal, and Kumari Selja were among the attendees.
Meanwhile, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) held a protest march from its Delhi headquarters to Jantar Mantar, demanding action from the Election Commission. The Youth Congress also organised a ‘Halla Bol March’ in the capital, during which several protestors were detained.
Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly accused the Election Commission of failing to uphold the principle of “One Man, One Vote,” calling it the bedrock of India’s Constitution and vowing that the Congress will continue to defend it.