Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has intensified his criticism of the Election Commission (EC), claiming that ongoing electoral exercises in Bihar are marred by systematic “vote chori” or vote theft. Speaking on Monday during the second day of his Voter Adhikar Yatra, Gandhi warned the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, and fellow election commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, that they would face strict action once the INDIA bloc forms the government both in Bihar and at the national level.

This comes a day after the Chief Election Commissioner served Gandhi a seven-day ultimatum to submit a signed affidavit supporting his allegations. Without the affidavit, the EC declared, his claims would be considered baseless under the electoral laws.

Voter Adhikar Yatra: Town Visits and Interactions

The Voter Adhikar Yatra, which began in Sasaram on Sunday, moved through Aurangabad and Kutumba before reaching Gaya Ji on Monday. Gandhi was joined by several key allies including RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPI (ML) Liberation’s Dipankar Bhattacharya, and Mukesh Sahani from the Vikassheel Insan Party. At every stop, Gandhi interacted with voters and highlighted alleged irregularities in voter rolls, the revision process, and incidents where voters were allegedly excluded from lists during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Addressing a large crowd in Gaya Ji, Gandhi said, “The Election Commission is asking me to submit an affidavit even after our team has caught the vote theft. This is unacceptable. We will continue to document irregularities in every assembly and Lok Sabha constituency and put the truth before the people.”

Gandhi alleged that the SIR exercise in Bihar’s electoral rolls is being used as a “new weapon” for vote theft. According to him, the EC’s recent actions in the state mirror political “special packages” announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for political purposes. He said, “Just like Modi announces special packages, the EC has a new package in Bihar which is, in fact, a new form of vote theft.”

Claims of Past Vote Theft

The Congress leader said his party’s investigations had already identified vote manipulation in previous elections in Maharashtra and Haryana. In one assembly segment of a Lok Sabha seat in Karnataka, Gandhi claimed that nearly one lakh votes were manipulated or stolen. “The EC ignored these findings and instead demanded an affidavit within a week. They are shifting responsibility to the opposition rather than taking action themselves,” Gandhi asserted.

Direct Warning to Election Commissioners

Rahul Gandhi did not hold back in targeting the election commissioners directly. He alleged bias toward the ruling party and accused them of taking BJP membership while holding their official positions. “These three election commissioners… you have aligned with the BJP. But remember, a day will come when the INDIA bloc forms the government, and strict action will follow,” he said.

Patriotic and Constitutional Appeal

In a dramatic gesture, Gandhi held up a copy of the Indian Constitution, emphasizing that it represents the will of Bharat Mata and the vision of leaders like B.R. Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Jawaharlal Nehru. “Any act of vote theft is not just a crime against democracy—it is an attack on the soul of India,” he said. Gandhi insisted that vote manipulation undermines both the Constitution and the very idea of Bharat Mata.

Voter Interactions: Real Stories

During his yatra, Gandhi met multiple groups of voters who had participated in previous elections but found their names removed from the draft electoral rolls during the SIR process. In Aurangabad, voters claimed that their exclusion was carried out following “orders from above,” without any clear explanation. Gandhi highlighted these cases to illustrate how the principle of “one person, one vote” is being threatened.

He recounted, “People who have voted in the last four or five elections are suddenly removed from the list. This is not just administrative negligence—it is a deliberate attempt to suppress votes.”

Congress Strategy and Public Message

The Voter Adhikar Yatra is part of Gandhi’s broader strategy to mobilize voters, raise awareness about electoral integrity, and pressure the Election Commission to act transparently. Gandhi reiterated that his campaign is about protecting voter rights, especially for marginalized communities and the poor. “This is a fight for the rights of the ordinary citizens. We will not stop. We will stop vote theft and ensure that every citizen’s vote counts,” he said.

Response from the Election Commission

In response to Gandhi’s repeated allegations, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar urged him to either submit a signed affidavit or apologize to the nation. “There is no third option. If an affidavit is not submitted within seven days, all allegations will be considered baseless,” Kumar stated at a press conference, flanked by commissioners Sandhu and Joshi.

Political Implications

Gandhi’s public campaign against alleged vote theft comes ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where Bihar is considered a crucial state. The accusations of manipulation in electoral rolls, combined with historical claims of vote theft in other states, could intensify political debates and put the Election Commission under scrutiny. The INDIA bloc aims to capitalize on this narrative to strengthen its electoral position in Bihar and beyond.

As the Voter Adhikar Yatra progresses through Bihar, Rahul Gandhi continues to focus on alleged SIR-related irregularities and voter suppression. With his insistence on accountability from the Election Commission and direct engagement with voters, Gandhi is positioning himself as a defender of electoral integrity and democratic rights. His campaign emphasizes the importance of transparency, citizen participation, and the protection of the constitutional right to vote in India.