Congress, allies plan rallies, signature drive against vote fraud, roll changes

New Delhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with leaders of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc in Bihar, will launch a ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra’ across the state from August 17. The campaign aims to protest the revision of electoral rolls and turn the fight against vote theft into a mass movement.

Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal announced the yatra on X, stating that the battle to safeguard democracy will be fought on the streets. He said the initiative is against the dangerous SIR exercise and seeks to rally public support against vote chori. Venugopal also met I.N.D.I.A. bloc leaders in Sasaram on Wednesday to review preparations, mobilise supporters, and ensure smooth coordination for the programme.

The yatra will conclude on September 1 with a rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. Earlier, the Congress called vote chori a do-or-die issue and unveiled a plan to take its message to the people. This includes ‘Loktantra Bachao Mashaal Marches’ in all district headquarters on August 14 evening, on the eve of Independence Day.

Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar said the party will conduct three key programmes. From August 22 to September 7, Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhor rallies will be organised in all state headquarters. Between September 15 and October 15, a nationwide signature campaign will be held to protect voting rights and encourage citizen participation. He stressed that the entire I.N.D.I.A. bloc stands united on this matter.

Last week, Rahul Gandhi alleged that over one lakh votes were stolen in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura Assembly segment during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls through multiple forms of manipulation. The opposition has also been raising protests in Parliament against the electoral roll revision, accusing the Election Commission of trying to disenfranchise voters in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. They are demanding a full discussion on the issue in both Houses.