Addressing a gathering in Madhubani during his Voter Adhikar Yatra, Rahul Gandhi said, “Amit Shah has repeatedly claimed that BJP will remain in power for 40–50 years. How does he know this with such certainty? The truth has now come out—that they engage in ‘vote chori’.”
Congress Escalates ‘Vote Chori’ Charge
Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of first practicing electoral manipulation in Gujarat before expanding it nationally in 2014. He alleged that the trend has continued in various states, undermining the democratic rights of citizens. “I don’t lie. I only speak when I have facts before me,” he said, adding that the opposition will resist attempts to deny people their voting rights.
He further told the crowd that the youth of Bihar had “demonstrated their strength” through protests, which he believes will pressure the BJP and the Election Commission of India (ECI) to act more transparently.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also targeted the BJP, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of betraying the people. Referring to Modi’s past election campaign remark that “Congress will steal your buffalo,” she countered, “It is Narendra Modi who is stealing your vote.”
Priyanka described voting as the cornerstone of Indian democracy and people’s “most precious right.” She claimed the BJP had already taken away jobs, public sector assets, and resources, and warned that if citizens lose their voting rights, “you will have no identity left, and even your citizenship will be at risk.
Background: Amit Shah’s 2017 Remark
Rahul Gandhi’s criticism stems from a 2017 statement by Amit Shah at a meeting with party workers in Madhya Pradesh. At the time, Shah had declared that the BJP had not come to power for just 5–10 years but aimed to transform India over 40–50 years through sustained governance.
The Congress argues that such confidence is only possible through manipulation of electoral rolls and suppression of opposition votes. In recent weeks, Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly highlighted alleged irregularities in voter lists, especially in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura constituency, where the party claims over one lakh “fake votes” were added.
Election Commission Denies Allegations
The Election Commission of India has strongly denied the Congress’s allegations, calling them “baseless and misleading.” The ECI has asked Rahul Gandhi to submit a sworn affidavit with evidence, reiterating that the process of preparing electoral rolls is transparent and involves scrutiny by political parties at every stage.
Despite this, the “vote chori” row continues to dominate Congress’s political campaign, with both Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi framing it as a fight for the survival of Indian democracy.
For official information on electoral roll procedures, readers can visit the Election Commission of India website.