The Congress on Wednesday intensified its campaign against alleged ‘vote chori’ by releasing a new video showing how fake votes were being cast, with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge urging people to raise their voice and protect constitutional institutions from the “clutches of the BJP.”
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi also shared the one-minute video, saying, “Aapke vote ki chori aapke adhikar ki chori, aapki pehchaan ki chori hai.”
Tagging the advertisement titled ‘Booth Par Vote Chori,’ Congress president Kharge appealed, “Do not let your right to vote be taken away. Ask questions, demand answers this time! Raise your voice against vote chori.”
He further urged citizens to “free constitutional institutions from the clutches of the BJP” in his message on X.
The Congress video shows a family entering a polling booth, where two individuals inform them that their votes have already been cast. The clip ends with the two people casting fake votes and giving a thumbs-up to an officer sitting at a table marked ‘Election Chori Aayog.’
The Congress on Tuesday described “vote chori” as a “do-or-die” issue and outlined a plan to take its allegations to the public through a series of activities, including ‘Loktantra Bachao Mashaal Marches’ scheduled for the evening of August 14.
The party also claimed that as more “evidence” of “vote chori” emerged, it appeared less like mere theft and more like “dacoity.”
The announcement followed a meeting chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, which included party general secretaries, state in-charges, and heads of its frontal organizations. Attendees included former party chief Rahul Gandhi, general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh, K C Venugopal, Sachin Pilot, Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, and treasurer Ajay Maken.
After the meeting, Congress leader and NSUI in-charge Kanhaiya Kumar told reporters that “a big issue” of “vote chori” had come to light. “Rahul Gandhi ji has presented the truth with evidence on how democracy is being throttled,” he said.
Kumar outlined three key programs to raise public awareness:
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On August 14, the eve of Independence Day, ‘Loktantra Bachao Mashaal Marches’ will be held in all district headquarters.
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Between August 22 and September 7, Congress will organise “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhorh (Vote Thieves, Relinquish Power)” rallies in all state capitals.
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From September 15 to October 15, a signature campaign will be launched to protect voting rights and ensure public participation.
Kumar emphasized that the entire INDIA bloc is united on this issue.
Additionally, the Congress has launched a web portal enabling citizens to register complaints, demand accountability from the Election Commission, and support digital voter rolls. Rahul Gandhi urged people to visit votechori.in/ecdemand to submit proof and report cases of “vote chori.” The portal also features Gandhi’s video reiterating claims of a “huge criminal fraud” in elections through alleged collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission, calling it “a crime against the Constitution.”
On Monday, opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Kharge, and Sharad Pawar, marched from Parliament House to the Election Commission office in protest against the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and alleged “vote chori,” but were stopped midway by police and briefly detained amid tense scenes. (Agencies)
